# How to deal with bloodsucking bastard ticks? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 13, 2022, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-bloodsucking-bastard-ticks/966099 "2022-06-13T13:20:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-bloodsucking-bastard-ticks/966099/41 "2023-05-11T16:54:49Z")
Chickens were mentioned above. They really do get rid of the ticks. Unfortunately my neighbors reduced their flock and they don’t range as freely as they used to. Might just get a few to keep around in the backyard for just the summer months if I can keep the dogs from eating the chickens that eat the ticks. They’ll migrate south in the wintertime all on their own, right? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-bloodsucking-bastard-ticks/966099/42 "2023-05-11T17:04:00Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Chickens were mentioned above. They really do get rid of the ticks. Chickens might be a good solution for those who have a tick problem in their yards, for neighborhoods that allow you to keep chickens, but fortunately I have never found a tick in my yard, or on my person after spending time in my yard (yet…) The tick problem for which I started the OP is on my friend’s few acres of land up north that we camp on. It’s open woodland, and he only gets up there a half dozen times a season at the most, so chickens would not be a viable option up there. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-bloodsucking-bastard-ticks/966099/43 "2023-05-11T17:18:33Z")
I understand. It’s a possible solution for me, but no number of birds or possums seem to help in the wild. The idea of some sort of sticky garter sounds like a really good idea. Especially if it could be spiked with whatever kills them in the dog medicine. I grew up as a free range kid so checking for ticks in the summer was a necessity. Later I moved into Lyme territory and it became even more necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-bloodsucking-bastard-ticks/966099/44 "2023-05-11T17:55:03Z")
> [@solost](#): > > > [@TriPolar](#): > > > > Chickens were mentioned above. They really do get rid of the ticks. > > Chickens might be a good solution for those who have a tick problem in their yards, for neighborhoods that allow you to keep chickens, but fortunately I have never found a tick in my yard, or on my person after spending time in my yard (yet…) > > The tick problem for which I started the OP is on my friend’s few acres of land up north that we camp on. It’s open woodland, and he only gets up there a half dozen times a season at the most, so chickens would not be a viable option up there Too bad, because then you could combine tick-protection with a tasty dinner. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-bloodsucking-bastard-ticks/966099/45 "2023-05-11T18:29:17Z")
Yeah, chicken tastes especially good after a steady diet of ticks. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-bloodsucking-bastard-ticks/966099/46 "2023-05-11T20:25:07Z")
Last Sat it rained all day - wasn’t out on any non-paved surface at all. On Sun we did a photo shoot at a tulip farm. Yes, I was sitting on the ground but it was just (lots of) dirt & tulips - no grass & relatively not a lot of shade, so not where I’d expect to find ticks, & my l/s t-shirt was tucked in & I was wearing a sweatshirt & rain jacket over top of that. The next day when I took a shower there was a **big** one attached to my chest! _Maybe_ it hopped of the dog in bed & I got it there but even there it would have needed to crawl. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-bloodsucking-bastard-ticks/966099/47 "2023-05-11T21:56:53Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > A fine-toothed comb for your hair is helpful. When I got thrown out, that’s all I had. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-deal-with-bloodsucking-bastard-ticks/966099.md?page=2)