Ticks & Chiggers

[Peach2u]

I may have a problem. We bought a new place and have started building a 16'x14'coop.A couple days I came home and found ticks and chiggers on me and a few other family members. I now spray all of us before going out. But next week when I put my chickens in, how do I protect them from mites,lice,& chiggers. I know they will eat the ticks. I looked in the local home improvement store and I didn't see anything I would put in with my chickens. Any ideas on how to control these pest in a large area. I plan on free range after they get use to the new pen.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Dust you chickens with sevin dust. I've never heard of chiggers/redbugs getting to chickens.

 

[Lbrad7]

You can also get you a couple guineas. The LOVE ticks and are great in general in insect control.

 

[Shireshome]

Don't you just love them? I am from California and when I moved to Texas 6 years ago I had never heard of chiggers before. At the same time my DH didn't know that we don't have them in CA so he didn't bother telling me about them. Well I foolishly went out into some tall grass and was covered with them

Needless to say, I wasn't happy for many weeks. After an attempt to move to Missouri 2 years ago I found out what it is like to live in a tick AND chigger infested area....Well let’s just say, that didn't work for me either. Now as to what you can use, my DH and I recently came across some stuff called Cedarcide. You will want the stuff called PTO to treat your yard, all that’s in it is cedar oil. I have heard some on here say the cedar isn't good for chicken, they say it hurts their lungs. But I know a family that uses cedar chips straight from the cedar mill as bedding for their pasture chickens; they run a pasture egg farm and have around 1000 chickens and they have never had a problem. However, if you'd rather not try that around the chickens, you could try orange oil, I hear that this works very well to.

BTW: I have only ever used the Cedarcide on cockroaches (YUK!) and fleas and it works fantastic, roaches die in seconds. Orange oil I have only ever used on Fire ants, that was also a great success so I wouldn't hesitate to try either one on chiggers and ticks

 

[cadobbertien]

I've read a safe organic control for bugs is diatomaceous earth. Here is a link to a previous discussion on DE on BYC https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3688

 

[Peach2u]

Thanks, I think I will try to find DE. I read it is also good for a wormer. And yes my hubby is from northern CA. He didn't know about chiggers either. I'm from TN so I know where they live. We went hiking once a few years back. I stuck to the road he wanted near the creek. I said I wouldn't do that! I got the normal your crazy look. Later that night hundreds of them showed up. I had 0. But, we are building the new coop a few yards from an over grown creek, and are payin the price. Clearing the brush to the creek is on the to do list!

Behind all the brush is a creek. The start of the 14'16' coop/run

 

[CherBru]

Chiggers are vicious and I've got the bites and bruises to prove it! I just use something like deep woods off. Clearing the area of brush and high grass helps. DH & I did alot of that today. We bought some DE to sprinkle around but didn't get to that today.

 

[almosthome]

Hi. I use Chigger Block spelled Chig-R-Block from ChiggerBlock.com it works great! For my yard what I do is purchase the 8 ounce refill (you have to email them for it) and thin it with a gallon of soy or corn oil. Then I put it in a sprayer and spray away. It works for Chiggers, ticks, mosquitoes, and every other issue I have had. It is non toxic and safe for everyone except cats. Cats are a whole other issue.

Just my two cents but I think the stuff is amazing! I use it for myself in the the woods and gardening full strength and I get zero bites.

My two cents.

Cheers, Christina

 

[True Grit]

Oooo, thanks for posting about the ChiggerBlock and

 

[Peach2u]

Thanks, we been using deep-woods off. Didn't use it yesterday. My son turned the can upside down and sprayed. So I have a full can with no gas. So, we had chigger and ticks again. I have 2 cats so since I like them to hunt the field mice who have also invaded, the new stuff wont work. My luck we buy a house to get out of the city and have to use DEET to go out. But, we are getting closer to finishing the coop. Found out we built it next too the deer run! At least the chickens will have lots of bugs to eat. LOL