In August of 2001, my husband and I decided to build a new house. The land we chose to build on had not been cleared fpr about 45 or 50 years. Needless to say --- ticks were thick. We'd go out and work for three or four hours--come in and pick --usually about a dozen ticks off of our bodies. The solution: We bought bantam (banty) chickens. Within a week the ticks had cut down to one or two a day. Within 2 or 3 weeks--no ticks. Bantams are easy to care for. we let them eat ticks and bugs during the day then fed then in the evening. They stay close to home--basically in the yard. We let ours run free but there is one problem with that. If there are dogs around the dogs will kill them. It's better to build a small lot and maybe a small chicken house. After they get big enough they will fly up in the trees where the dogs can't get them. From:Chester A. Stanfill