Ticks!

[HomesteaderWife]

Gosh, where do I begin on this. I am the only one in the household having a major problem with ticks over the past two Spring/Summer seasons. Last year, I was pulling 5+ good sized ticks off of me a day. This year, I have baby ticks constantly on my legs and ankles. I pulled 10 off last night, and 5 just now. We've changed sheets, sprayed around the house, and I have kept bug spray on daily. I wear tight fitting boots and socks yet still get them on my feet. Winter time is no problem, but this year it is just getting worse.

Does anyone have suggestions? I don't know where they are coming from or how to try and be rid of them/keep them off of me. I'm open to herbal remedies or store-bought stuff....I just need some ideas from experienced folks before I end up covered. Please help! Thank you everyone.

 

[seedcorn]

TempoSC. Follow directions.

 

[thistlebloom]

What an awful problem, I feel for you.
Check out garlic, and also apple cider vinegar as tick repellents.
I did a little googleing and found several articles. One was a double blind study of 100 Swedish marines using garlic taken internally as a tick repellent. The results showed a 21% reduction in tick bites.

I hope you find something that works.

 

[dickiebird]

Last year I came in covered with ticks, used a deet type spray on my shoes and cuffs that worked.
This year I haven't had but 2 ticks all spring and summer and I haven't sprayed with any repellent.

THANX RICH

 

[journey11]

Can you keep poultry where you live? Get some guineas. They eat them. If you have tall grass anywhere near your house, mow it down and keep a clear perimeter. I live on one acre surrounded by farmland and sometimes my cats bring them in from hunting the fields. I have to keep Frontline (generic version, PetAction Plus) on them for that. If you're out in the woods or fields, I recommend treating a set of clothing with Sawyer Permetherin spray. It is non-toxic to humans and animals once dry and will last through 6 washings. I use it when I go mushroom hunting and you will not have any bugs on you, guaranteed.

@thistlebloom ,we had a rescue dog once with severe flea dermatitis and had great results healing it by giving her a garlic and brewers yeast supplement, taken internally.

 

[seedcorn]

@journey11 appreciate advice on flea dermatitis. Our dog is allergic to everything including fleas.

 

[Nyboy]

Seed I have clients who swear by garlic brewer yeast.

 

[Nyboy]

With the number of tick bites you been getting, you might want to start antibiotics for Lyme. Even if you test neg

 

[Smart Red]

Free ranging chickens, ducks, or best of all, Guinea fowl. That's the best "cure" for ticks known in South-est, central-est Wisconsin.

 

[ducks4you]

I just had a tick on me the other day. I have been leaning down and pulling weeds and I think that is a big part of the prevention, keeping brush LOW.
Ditto on getting treated for lyme.