Let's talk about ticks


 Alright y'all, if you follow me on social media, you know that ticks are my arch nemesis and I absolutely CANNOT handle how much they've invaded my life lately. I don't know if it brings me comfort or just more misery to know that so many of you feel exactly the same way, but the simple fact is we are all in the same boat.

That being said, I asked what you do to repel the little demons and, as you always do, you guys delivered with some really great repellent options. I've compiled a list below so we can all have less phantom crawling nightmares in the months ahead.

1) Chickens and guineas

Well I was already teetering on the "let's get chickens" fence and you guys knocked me right over into the PRO side with this little fact. Apparently chickens can eat up to 80 ticks per hour, and some research shows guineas can consume close to 4000 PER DAY. Holy guacamole that sounds like a win to me. 

That being said, this option also comes with a lot of extra work (those chickens don't care for themselves) and money (feed, materials, a coop your husband will curse you for having to build). And it only works if you let them free range. Guineas appear to be less work but they make up for that with their somewhat annoying vocals. 

This is obviously a very personal choice but fresh eggs and less ticks are honestly two of the higher things on my wish list. 

2) Wood chips around the perimeter

This one honestly felt counterintuitive to me - they are called WOOD ticks after all - but I looked it up and it's true! Apparently the little buggers don't like travelling across rough or dry surfaces like wood. The barrier does need to be larger, something like 3 feet wide, in order for it to be effective, but it has a lot of success. 

Ticks don't like the dry environment, and this also helps clear away leaf litter which is what they use for cover. 

3) Tick repellents

There's a host of repellents on the market but a few that were recommended were Purely Parsons, Nature's Good Guys, and YaYa Tick Spray. These all seem better than the chemicals in your typical bug spray (the crunchy in me coming out) especially if you have kids and pets around!

4) Essential oils

I've used these throughout my home for their health benefits and also to keep some harsh ingredients out of our lives. The two I've found for tick prevention are Rose Geranium oil and Tea Tree oil. I will often mix a spray bottle with water and a couple drops of the oil to spray on furniture or rugs near our entry way, but I've also taken to putting a few drops on my ankle or neck before going outside.

Someone also recommended using the tea tree oil in the shower. Put a few drops in your hand with your shampoo and wash it into your hair to help repel them. If nothing else, it'll probably smell really good so a win is a win.

Unfortunately, the nature of our lives in rural America doesn't bode well for our hatred of ticks, but maybe these little remedies will help. As always, check yourself and your kids every day and remove ticks immediately to prevent disease spread like Lyme. 

Wishing you a summer full of fun and NOT FULL of ticks. 

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