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Can I get some advice from those who live in tick-infested areas? I am in NJ. I am looking at buying a house and my wife is very concerned about the kids picking up Lyme disease while playing outside. The property is about 2 acres backing to a large stream. There is about 100 feet of property next to the stream that's heavily wooded with a walking path down to the stream. It is designated wetland and cannot be altered because it's next to the stream. There's a deer fence with a gate just before the stream to keep deer out/children in. There is another 100 feet or so of lawn with a few trees that has been terraced with stone retaining walls to create level areas. It is a sloped lot with the water running off into the stream - does this mean we will not be allowed to do any sort of spraying on the lawn for tick control because we will contaminate the water? We've also read that stone walls can be a problem with ticks. What do you think? Would you let your kids run around back there, and what would you do to keep them safe? Or would you not buy this property at all with 2 young boys? Thanks.
Anytime you get out into nature ticks can be a problem. I think you should contact the local county's extension and vector control offices for their perspective on the tick issue for that area. Plus they would be able to give a much clearer picture on approved pesticides and application techniques allowed.
I wouldn't allow the fear of ticks to stop me from buying what sounds like a boys dream property. Just make sure the kids know how to swim and understand the dangers of the area. If these are city boys they might not have a healthy regard for the dangers that lurk. Plus they are boys and bound to get into some kind of trouble.
Sounds like a beautiful property. Pics would be nice.
Location: Democratic Peoples Republic of Redneckistan
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Sevin dust helps,20 mule team borax helps,guinea chickens help...Lyme disease is awful,but I would not worry about it so much as to let it rule where I lived....there are several ways to keep yourself safe...I wish I had paid attention to them.
We live on five acres in the Pocono’s - also in the red zone for deer ticks. We used to have many ticks on our property. That was before we were overrun by wild turkeys. We have an next door neighbor that consistently feeds the turkeys - we also feed them in the cold snowy winter months. We also have ducks - on top of the fifty to one hundred wild turkeys.
My feeling is that the birds help. If you watch wild turkeys they are looking and pecking at everything. I would also think that Guinea hens would work - if zoning and your neighbors would allow them?
It is a very fine line feeding the turkeys. Spraying a scoop of corn in your back yard could also encourage deer. It is very hard to landscape with deer hanging around - plus they have deer ticks. Spraying cracked corn in the morning does not usually attract deer as much as spraying whole corn in the evening. Never make a pile of corn because you will encourage the deer.
Keep your lawn short around the house. Also make sure you protect your pets - so they will not bring the ticks inside.
Location: Democratic Peoples Republic of Redneckistan
11,078 posts, read 15,027,692 times
Reputation: 3936
Quote:
Originally Posted by fisheye
We live on five acres in the Pocono’s - also in the red zone for deer ticks. We used to have many ticks on our property. That was before we were overrun by wild turkeys. We have an next door neighbor that consistently feeds the turkeys - we also feed them in the cold snowy winter months. We also have ducks - on top of the fifty to one hundred wild turkeys.
My feeling is that the birds help. If you watch wild turkeys they are looking and pecking at everything. I would also think that Guinea hens would work - if zoning and your neighbors would allow them?
It is a very fine line feeding the turkeys. Spraying a scoop of corn in your back yard could also encourage deer. It is very hard to landscape with deer hanging around - plus they have deer ticks. Spraying cracked corn in the morning does not usually attract deer as much as spraying whole corn in the evening. Never make a pile of corn because you will encourage the deer.
Keep your lawn short around the house. Also make sure you protect your pets - so they will not bring the ticks inside.
Yes,birds REALLY do help...my F-I-L proved it to me...he bought an old farm several years back and you couldn't walk acrossed the yard without getting a dozen ticks on you...he said he would fix that and he went and bought a dozen Guineas....you have to keep them penned for a few weeks and as soon as he let them out it was a feeding frenzy in his yard..he now has dozens of them and although the are aggravating as hell,he hasn't had a tick on him in many years now.
I'm getting ready to do the same thing at our new place..we bought a 28 acre farm a few years ago and have been remodeling it as we could afford it..it's just a few weeks away from us moving in and I'll have Guineas running on it by spring for sure.
Ha, no way my wife is letting me get a flock of guinea fowl! I can't imagine the noise and the droppings... it's not that big a yard. That's a funny idea though.
Ha, no way my wife is letting me get a flock of guinea fowl! I can't imagine the noise and the droppings... it's not that big a yard. That's a funny idea though.
Yeah, that's pretty much us. We spent 10 years as apartment dwellers in Manhattan...
Don't forget to get ur selves a pig named Wilber.
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