Bug season is here. Here are a couple of ways we deal with them.
First of all, we worm all our animals using diatomaceous earth. Here's a post I did about it a while back. I've read on other sites about people wondering how to get away from chemical wormers because of the problems they can cause, and here's the answer. If you don't want to mix with other minerals like we do, you can sprinkle it on grain, or just mix with loose salt.
Secondly, I found an herbal collar that works really well for keeping ticks and fleas off of the dogs. It's made by Pet Guard. Legally they can't make claims about it, but we're using them again this year on our dogs because we liked the results. I like the way it smells and I am happy not to be subjecting my dogs to toxic chemicals.
I'd be interested in hearing about other natural products that anyone uses, so leave a comment and tell me about it.
This is good information. I hesitate each year when I put the drops on our dogs for ticks and fleas...and it's so expensive.
ReplyDeleteI would like to find something for the stock to help with flies. My sister thought maybe a citrus oil...any suggestions?
We use a lots of Garlic! Early in the year, we start feeding Garlic in their feed, works a treat! And its fairly cheap, down side is that, well? The horse smells like Garlic when they sweat while working!!!
ReplyDeleteThe pic puts me in mind of Wordsworth:
ReplyDeleteI WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils,
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
I use garlic too, I buy a large jar of crushed garlic- my horses eat it by the spoonful right out of the jar- even the colt likes it. It helps with bugs and worms.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried the D.E., kelp and salt mix yet, will have to source out the kelp and salt; I can get the earth locally.