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Do Chickens Protect Against Ticks? Chickens for Tick Control

Chickens for tick control

If you live in a geographic area where ticks thrive, then you know very well how much of a nuisance ticks can be. 

During the warmer summer months, it may seem like you are pulling multiple ticks off your family members or dogs daily.

After a while, living with ticks just becomes second nature. But it doesn’t have to be!

It is possible to control the tick population around your property.

How, might you ask?

With chickens, of course! 

If you are as intrigued as we were when we learned chickens could solve our tick problems, then keep on reading.

You won’t be disappointed. 

Do Chickens Protect Against Ticks infographics

Why Use Chickens For Tick Control?

chickens for tick control

Believe it or not, chickens are actually omnivores. They are the happiest and healthiest when they are able to eat both plants and insects. Chickens eat all kinds of other insects, not just ticks. Other pesky insects that chickens enjoy are:

  • Fleas
  • Hookworms
  • Spiders
  • Mosquitos

But be careful. It should be noted that chickens may also help themselves to other insects that are necessarily designated as ‘pests’, such as:

  • Butterflies
  • Moths
  • Honey bees

Chickens as a form of tick control are actually well documented.

Multiple scientific studies have investigated the use of chickens to control ticks on cattle farms in various parts of Africa.

They found the number of ticks eaten in 60 minutes ranged from 3 to 331 ticks.

With the average being 81 ticks per chicken. 

Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Using chickens as a form of tick control will not get rid of your tick problem overnight.

Like other ‘all-natural pest control solutions, you will have to be patient and give the chickens times to adapt. 

But you can set yourself (and your chickens) up for success by selecting the best type of chicken for the job.

Understanding Tick Basics 

chickens for tick control

We get it, ticks are blood-sucking, nasty insects – and you likely want nothing to do with them in your hard, on your pets, or in your home. We totally understand!

However, it’s important to know that not all ticks are dangerous in the sense that they carry disease.

We are all most worried about Lyme disease, right? 

Well, not all ticks carry Lyme disease.

That said, some other tick species do carry various transmissible diseases that you need to keep a watchful eye out for.

Species of Tick: Location: Known Diseases:
American Dog Tick Found all over North America Rocky Mountain Spotted fever
Deer Tick Found in every state, but most commonly in eastern states,   Lyme disease, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis
Lone Star Tick Southeastern, Midwestern, and Eastern United States Nymphs and adults can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and stari borreliosis
Rocky Mountain Wood Tick Mountain and Pacific Northwest Regions Colorado tick fever, rocky mountain spotted fever
Western-Backlegged Tick Pacific Coast States, British Colombia, and Canada Lyme Disease 
Brown Dog Tick Southern Tier of the United States Can transmit rocky mountain spotted fever to dogs, and rarely humans
Pacific Coast Tick Pacific coast from Oregon to Baja Peninsula of Mexico 11% can carry spotted fever
Gulf Coast Tick Coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean, and Gulf Coast No known diseases
Cayenne Tick Texas, and other southern states, along with Central and South America No known diseases

Understanding the ins and outs of where you live, and the most common tick found near your location is the best way to become informed. 

And if you live in an area with ticks that carry Lyme disease, it’s important to understand that not every single tick of that species will contain Lyme.

So even if you do find a deer tick, for example, it may not have transmitted Lyme disease.

What chickens are best for eating ticks?

chickens for tick control

When it comes to choosing the correct chicken for the job, you want to focus on selecting a breed that is excellent at foraging.

The more effectively a chicken can forage, the more ticks it will be able to find and consume. 

Best Chickens for Tick Control

  • Guinea Hen
  • Ameraucana
  • Ancona
  • Andalusian
  • Buckeye
  • Fayoumi
  • Golden Comet
  • Hamburg
  • Jersey Giant
  • Old English Game

When it comes to tick control, chickens are a great choice, especially if you choose any of the breeds from above. 

In addition to chickens, though, there is another type of fowl that absolutely needs to be mentioned in any conversation about natural predators of ticks. 

The Guinea Hen

For tick control, you may also want to consider the guinea hen.

Although it’s not technically a type of chicken, the guinea hen is another type of non-mammalian fowl that is excellent at foraging for and eating ticks.

You can raise these birds right alongside your chickens to double up on your tick control efforts. 

However, guinea hens are notorious for being harder to raise than chickens.

Guinea hens tend to be ‘wilder’, than chickens.

They enjoy doing what they want when they want.

They will roost and lay eggs wherever they please, making them harder to manage.

Guinea hens are much louder than chickens also. 

Lastly, guinea hens aren’t as commonly raised as a food source for you and your family.

So if you like to raise chickens for tick control and the occasional chicken noodle soup, then guinea hens may not be the best option. 

Fowl That Won’t Help With Tick Control

As you might suspect, there are also some birds out there that won’t be able to help with tick control like chickens or guinea hens can. 

  • Geese: You might not have known this, but geese are vegetarian. Their diet consists entirely of plants. So if you raise geese, or your home is visited by geese, don’t expect them to help reduce the tick population.
  • Broiler Chickens: While heritage-breed broilers or dual-purpose hens can be effective at getting rid of ticks, try to avoid hybrids like the Cornish Cross. They are a breed of chicken raised to grow fast and be used exclusively for their meat. They are large, lackadaisical chickens that would rather eat and rest than forage for insects.
  • Young Birds: Small, immature birds just don’t possess the intelligence and hunting skills they need to be effective tick hunters. They will try, but don’t expect them to make a dent in the tick population. Just keep the youngins’ safe, and let them grow. They’ll make great hunters one day.

Other Ways To Control Ticks

chickens for tick control

Chickens are not the only way to control ticks on your farm or in your garden.

Other secondary tick control methods can reduce the tick population in and around your property. 

We recommend a combination of all these strategies to form a holistic approach to keeping ticks out of the house. 

Mow the Lawn Regularly

Ticks love to live in grassy areas.

Specifically, they love long, uncut grasslands where they can live. 

They wait for a potential host to walk by and latch themselves onto as they create their nests and thrive in grassy and wooded areas.

Remove Any Piles of Leaf Debris

Ticks also love to hide in piles of leaves, wood, and other debris.

So after you prune your shrubs and trees, or rake up all the fallen leaves, we recommend you remove the piles of debris from your yard as soon as possible. 

Like with other opportunistic pests, ticks will choose to move elsewhere if you get rid of the temptation or the low-hanging fruit. 

Temporarily Remove Bird Feeders

Bird feeders and amazingly effective at incentivizing beautiful birds to visit your yard.

However,  during tick season, they may also incentivize ticks to stick around your yard as they wait for birds to come along.

Temporarily removing objects that attract animals to your yard, like bird feeders, will reduce the number of potential hosts spending time around your home.

And therefore, removing them will also reduce the presence of ticks. 

Monitor Your Furry Friends

Our beloved dogs and cats make great hosts for ticks, especially the adventurous ones that like to play outside and get lost in all the tall weeds and wooded areas. 

That is why it is crucial to monitor your furry friends for the presence of ticks when they want to come in from outside.

During tick season, it’s best to get in the habit of checking your pet every couple of days. 

There are also medications and vaccinations you can give your pet to deter ticks and protect them from disease if one still manages to latch on. 

Create a Barrier Around Your Yard

Ticks are not interested in being in the center of your yard.

They prefer the fringes of your property, where it’s safer, and plants are bushier and less manicured.

That is why we recommend creating a barrier around your yard. 

A decorative (and functional) 3-foot barrier of wood chips or gravel can help mitigate tick migration from the fringes of your property to the center, where folks tend to hang out more often.

Strategically Locate Your Outdoor Furniture

When it comes to playground equipment, decks, patios, and other outdoor furniture, is important to locate them away from the edges of the yard.

Like we mentioned above, tend to prefer the fringes of your yard. So the less time you can spend in those areas, the better off you will be. 

Consult a Pest Control Professional

If other pests, like rodents, skunks, or squirrels, are visiting your yard, they may attract ticks.

If you suspect this may be happening, and you’re having a tough time managing the presence of whatever pest it might be, you may consider consulting a pest control professional. 

They will be able to assess the problem you are experiencing and recommend a custom solution to fit your needs. 

What To Do If You Find a Tick

chickens for tick control

If you find a tick on you, a family member, or a pet dog, do not panic.

You can safely remove the tick using the steps below: 

  1. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible
  2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure; do not twist or jerk the tick
  3. After removing the tick, clean the area
  4. Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet, or placing it in a sealed bag or container, and throwing it away

Nowadays, you can send any tick you have removed to a local laboratory for testing. Within a week or so, the lab will send back a full write-up of what the tick was, and if it was positive or negative for certain diseases. 

Depending on the lab, testing a tick can cost between $10 and $20, plus postage.

But receiving closure on whether you may have contracted Lyme is worth it.

Using Chickens as Part of Your Tick Control Strategy

chickens for tick control

Most of us enjoy raising chickens because they provide us with delicious and nutritious eggs and meat. Plus, they are awfully cute. 

Even better, chickens love eating insects as part of their omnivorous diet, especially ticks.

Final Thoughts About Using Chickens for Tick Control

So if you struggle with a large tick population around your home, maybe consider letting your chickens roam freely to use chickens for tick control. 

In addition to using chickens as a form of tick control, you may also consider:

  • Mowing your lawn frequently and manicuring other grassy areas
  • Removing piles of plant debris from your yard that may be harboring ticks
  • Temporarily removing bird feeders and other items that attract wildlife to your yard during tick season
  • Monitoring your furry friends and family members for ticks when they come in from playing or working outside
  • Consulting a pest control specialist for their professional opinion

Chickens are just one strategy that can be utilized to reduce the tick population around your home.

We recommend a combination of all the tactics from above to form a holistic approach. 

It may seem like a lot of work, but the peace of mind is worth it!

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