[Calvadnack]

Just taken a tick off one of the dogs!  Our Shetland sheep don't look as if they've got ticks bothering them, but I think I need to take some preventative action.  Our Wiltshires have Clik on them but as I use the Shetlands for their fleeces (just finished a baby blanket) I would really prefer to avoid Dysect/Crovect/Spot On etc.  Also, the small bottles of Crovect are unavailable until December.

Does anyone have any experience of garlic mineral licks keeping off ticks or even just using Louse powder ?  If not, what is the least noxious option ?

Sue

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

Have a look at :

https://www.suppliesforsmallholders.co.uk/tick-control-spray-p-730.html

Thanks

[shrekfeet]

I have never seen any ticks on any of my sheep. However my dog gets loads of them - even though she has regular Frontline treatment which is supposed to prevent the problem. We just remove them when we spot them. Ticks on humans can be a major issue however and you must watch carefully for any red ring and flu like symptoms after a tick is removed

[Cobra]

Always told animal ticks wouldn't go to humans years ago, I had one in the middle of my back when I was likkle, dad and his cigarette end sorted it, Oh childhood memories 

[Wizard]

One of the old ways was. Oh first you must never pull it off, its feed pincers will break off in you and go all septic and can be serious.A spot of Genuine Wood Distilled Turpintine dropped on it will move it then you can make its life a misery for a wee while While you splat it and they don't like being dropped on the hot coals either That makes them crackle but not for long.

[DandG]

We find the easiest method for tick removal, and it costs nothing, is to just turn them with your finger in a clockwise direction and they will release their grip. We have removed loads of ticks from our Border Collie with this method and she has never had an infection, so all the head and pincers must come out. You will find is easier if you put a rubber glove on, as it gives you a better grip. It usually takes approx a couple of minutes spinning (not to fast) to get them off.

[woollyval]

Clik is not effectice against ticks! It is a larval stage inhibitor for flies....ie they can lay eggs but they will not develop. Dysect/Crovect/Spot on etc are synthetic pyrethroids. Natural pyrethroids....pyrethrins have been used against insects for hundreds of years! They are derived from the crysanthemum family but are unstable when made into a product to be used on sheep aparently. That is why the synthetic version was developed.

As a person who handles wool all the time I would say that to treat with spot on post shearing would protect from ticks for the next few months and by the time shearing comes around again will not be a problem.....

[Freddiesfarm]

I use garlic in the food and tea tree oil on the collars for my dogs and it works wonderfully - got 7 border collies here at the minute and not a flea or tick on any of them - famous last words, will now probably have a monster infestation!!

[Calvadnack]

Thanks for that, although the joy of squishing ticks was a bit graphic !  I think I'll use the Spot On - if WoollyShepherd isn't worried by it perhaps I shouldn't be so paranoid.

[hexhammeasure]

a natural method of tick control is guinea fowl... they love them....

[Calvadnack]

What a brilliant reason to get Guinea fowl !  OH isn't keen on their noise but perhaps this is a way to persuade him!!

[Wizard]

Next to Chinese Geese they are the best watch dogs ever,The gander can give you a nasty bite as well if you upset them

[Daisy]

These are good http://www.bada-uk.org/products/tickremover.php and have a look at this http://www.bada-uk.org/defence/indexdefence.php it's important to remove ticks properly and keep them in the freezer just incase of any sysmptoms of illness so the tick can be identified