Ticks

[Circlehook]

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

Pulled a male deer tick out of my inner thigh - think I might have picked it up while fishing and could have been there for a couple days. Doc put me on a prophylactic dose of doxycycline - two 100mg pills and I was good to go.

How could you tell the sex?

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by Circlehook

How could you tell the sex?

The usual way. He pulled it's pants down.

[Kierran]

I pulled an embedded one from my stomach as early as April 16th this year. Found it while food shopping. Almost did surgery in the frozen food section, but waited until we were back at the campsite...

[JFigliuolo]

Talked to my folks last night up in NY (Saratoga Springs). He had a tick on him, he knows how my wifes life is, so he really starts getting nervous. Pulls most the tick, then goes to Urgent Care. The Doc there says this year is the worst he has ever seen. He PERSONALLY pulls out 8-10 a DAY.

[JohnnyD]

Here's a Risk Map for Lyme Disease:


But keep in mind, ticks can carry diseases other than Lyme.

[RIJIMMY]

as a kid growing up in CT, I spent most of my time in the woods. We never even heard of ticks. Anyone know what has been driving the massive increase in tick populations?

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

as a kid growing up in CT, I spent most of my time in the woods. We never even heard of ticks. Anyone know what has been driving the massive increase in tick populations?

I wonder the same thing... I grew up in the Adirondacks. NEVER saw a tick... EVER. Spent summer days in woods/fields/etc.

Now they are EVERYWHERE up there (as well as down here). I've heard various theories, but I really can't find any of them very convincing.

So... the selfish side of me hopes that Lyme becomes epidemic. So some money goes into to finding a viable cure for those who don't respond to the current ABX's used today. Without more sick people, no serious money goes into

[FishermanTim]

Whenever we have a moderate/mild winter, the ticks end up having more animals to feed from, and thus reproduce more.
Add to this the increasing range of most "native" wildlife, and you end up with ticks getting a free ride onto your property (or closer to it).

I wonder if any deer hunters have noticed an increase in ticks on the deer they harvested?

[BostonFisher]

Glad I live in the city!

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by FishermanTim

Whenever we have a moderate/mild winter, the ticks end up having more animals to feed from, and thus reproduce more.
Add to this the increasing range of most "native" wildlife, and you end up with ticks getting a free ride onto your property (or closer to it).

I wonder if any deer hunters have noticed an increase in ticks on the deer they harvested?

When I was a kid, you NEVER saw a tick on a deer.

I've heard of them having 10's to 100's on them now a days.

[Raven]

after looking at that map
that not only do we have a total infestation
but it is of more paramount importance
than the custom of aerial spraying or fogging for skeetos.

whats the solution? a massive campainge of releasing
pheasants ,quail ,partridge, and Guinea fowl
or we have to use insecticides....

i can tell you which method officials would obviously take.

[MakoMike]

I haven't harvested a deer in a few years now, but when I was hunting them the ones I shot were loaded with ticks, particularly in the head and neck areas where the deer couldn't scratch them off easily.

[zimmy]

Originally Posted by Raven

when we eventually make our last and final move
to a bigger farm....
the first thing i'll do is build a chicken coop so i have
them ALWAYS on Tick patrol...

growing peppermint now ....and hopefully will buy some
strong smelling cedar mulch soon for around the house.

3 years ago, my yard was infested with ticks. We would find one or two every time we walked through the yard. I got lyme that year and was really sick until the antibiotics kicked in. Two years ago June we got 8 chicks who free range and we have barely seen a tick from our yard. Last year I thought it was just an off year. This year we go into the woods and get infested, but in our yard not one yet. Chickens are outstanding pets, great sources of food (we only eat the eggs-not the chickens ), great for compost, and good for ticks. I would recommend to anyone.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by zimmy

3 years ago, my yard was infested with ticks. We would find one or two every time we walked through the yard. I got lyme that year and was really sick until the antibiotics kicked in. Two years ago June we got 8 chicks who free range and we have barely seen a tick from our yard. Last year I thought it was just an off year. This year we go into the woods and get infested, but in our yard not one yet. Chickens are outstanding pets, great sources of food (we only eat the eggs-not the chickens ), great for compost, and good for ticks. I would recommend to anyone.

you got fertilized eggs? or no roosters...?
i don't like roosters much ,,,, hens i pet like a cat
and they sit in my lap....had 50 free range once
plus peacocks.... because i love MIMICRY,
i could call all the neighbor's peacocks over
to my place... heh heh heh....

used to have a blast at the San Diego Zoo riding
the tram in the sky doing peacock calls real loud
then just watchin
everyone down below look for them

i have been struggling with the idea
but these ticks are BAD
just walkin right next to the house just now
for 10 minutes watering the sugar snap peas
and i came in with one....

sat next to the wife on the couch
and felt it crawling on my elbo

this is happening every single day!
and my wife had one crawling on her face
when she looked in the mirror this mornin @ 6am
so it's outta fukkin control

[MakoMike]

I was thinking of getting some chickens or guinea hens for tick control, but I read elsewhere that they aren't very effective.

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by MakoMike

I was thinking of getting some chickens or guinea hens for tick control, but I read elsewhere that they aren't very effective.

I've always heard guinea hens were the BEST tick control out there... Could be a myth I suppose.

[Raven]

i can spot a tick now from 6 feet away

so i am absolutely sure a chicken can spot one
that is 12 inches away

[Jenn]

yep found my first one a couple weeks ago and have not stopped scratching my scalp raw since........

oh and yes mice are probably the more likely culprit. The area in the yard that has the field mouse problem is also the same area that we have the tick problem

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by JFigliuolo

I've always heard guinea hens were the BEST tick control out there... Could be a myth I suppose.

They are definitely good at it. My wife's uncle bought a dozen to take care of the problem at his horse farm. They were all eaten by predators within a month, but the ticks were gone. If you let them run, don't name them. They are not the least bit afraid of cars.

[BassDawg]

am on my second round of doxycyclene~~

twice a day, for twenty days! the rotten BASTAGE burrowed
in on my belt line and i never knew it was there until it had

fully engorged itself and dropped off, i thought i was bitten by a skeeter,
since it only left a a bump in its wake. then came the bull's-eye rash and some minor joint pain, got into the antibiotics right away and will have the doc test for it in acoupla weeks. i am also taking florastor(probiotic) echinaccea, golden seal, wheat grass juice sporadically, and adding loads of garlic to the diet.

it is important to remember that while antibiotics are GREAT for taking out the disease from your body they ALSO remove all of your good flora. very important to take probiotics WITH antibiotics.

i feel good and hope that my tests results will tell me we got it. and i ahven't been in the deep woods per say, but i do live in the buckle of the tick belt,,,,,,,,Middleton, MA. hope this helps.

[Finaddict]

my biggest concern on it is for my daughter ... she burrows through bushes like crazy, I always try to search for ticks when she comes in, but I fear her mother doesn't check regularly.

[Raven]

if you want to make that wheat grass taste
a little better mix it with carrot juice

that's a good health regimen
but don't forget the C and E

aloe vera water the centrifuged gel
will also double the power of your immune system
as will spicy food ...so if you enjoy Thai cuisine
go for it....

[zimmy]

Originally Posted by Raven

you got fertilized eggs? or no roosters...?

Sorry, lost sight of this thread. No roosters. we order sexed chicks. If we didn't have neighbors nearby, we would probably get a rooster. The chickens are both of my boys favorite pets. My neighbors growing up had peacocks. I still think of the raaattt raattt raaattt sound on a warm summer night.

[Raven]

i had this one friggan rooster who used ta PISS Me OFF

every damn day that S.O.B. would start crowing his cockadoodle doo
15 minutes earlier than the day before

when the coyotes finally ate him ..... i was a much happier camper

[chuckg]

I'm into my 3rd bout of Lyme's no visible rash but after two times you know what you have, get the doxycycline and put it to you...