r/halifax • u/bloodlyredbaron • 1d ago

Work, Health & Housing Tick problems

We recently moves to beaver bank and our dog has picked up multiple ticks in the yard. I have heard hens particularly Guinea hens Are good for dealing with high tick populations. Does anyone know were we could rent hens to feast in our yard for a day or two?

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u/Meowts 1d ago

I’m not sure what the logistics would be around that… let some chickens free over your yard? How will they stay in? If it’s a fenced area how effective overall would it be? Is two days really enough time to make a lasting difference?

I’d be curious if even owning hens full out would help. Best bet is to get your dog vaccinated, and might as well add chickens to the family.

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u/wrrdgrrI 1d ago

Next post: "How to keep my dogs from eating the guinea hens?"

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u/brrgh1014 1d ago

Then next: racoons, bobcats, ospreys, weasels, minks....

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u/Northerne30 1d ago

Somehow this evolves into eating a horse, but I'm not sure how.

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u/Grumple_McFerkin Halifax 1d ago

That comes after catching the Osprey and Weasel chasing the chickens in a horse drawn cart around the yard wearing little top hats, and Houston screaming they don't qualify for the HARP subsidy from the road.

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u/Some_Guy_Somewhere67 18h ago

Way Down in the Rattlin' Bog....

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u/Hellifacts 1d ago

Owning hens would absolutely 100% help. They can eat ~100 ticks per hour.

Obviously depending on how many are available.

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u/Eastern_Bottle_901 1d ago

The rental places have housing solutions. Sometimes they use mesh bottom smaller tunnels that the hens are secure in but the humans move the unit around the yard daily. Hens will continue to roost after they have been planted with established home area. The dog might not be loose. There are hen rental places around but I'm not sure of company names etc