Ticks are part of life in Missouri, but that does not mean they have to take over the barnyard. Around our farm, we still see a tick once in a while, but we do not see nearly as many as we used to. The biggest difference has not been a complicated chemical program. It has been using birds as part of the daily livestock system.
Why Ticks Are a Concern Around Pigs
Kunekune pigs have thick, tough skin, and ticks often have a harder time attaching to them than they do on animals with softer skin. That said, pigs are not completely tick-proof.
The places we watch most closely are the softer areas:
- Behind the ears
- Under the belly
- Around folds or thinner-skinned areas
- Any spot the pig cannot easily rub or scratch
A calm pig that is used to being handled is much easier to check. That is one reason temperament matters so much in a good herd. Daily observation catches small problems before they turn into bigger ones.
Our Best Tick Control Has Been Guinea Fowl
For a long time, guinea fowl were one of the best tools we had for tick control in and around the barn. Guineas are active foragers, and they spend a lot of time hunting through grass, bedding edges, fence lines, and barnyard areas where ticks like to wait.
They are not quiet birds, and they are not for every setup, but they can be very effective. If your property can support them safely, guinea fowl are worth considering as part of a natural tick-control plan.
Now We Are Using Chickens in the Barn
More recently, we have been using chickens in the barn with the pigs. Chickens may not cover ground exactly like guineas, but they still scratch, peck, stir bedding, and hunt for bugs. They help turn the barn into a less comfortable place for ticks and other pests.
For many farms, chickens are also easier to manage than guinea fowl. They are more familiar to most people, easier to contain, and can fit well into a barn routine when introduced thoughtfully.
The goal is not to make the barn sterile. The goal is to reduce the pest load naturally while keeping the livestock environment healthier and more balanced.
Why We Prefer an Organic-First Approach
There are over-the-counter sprays available for tick control, and in some situations they may have a place. But our preference is to start with the most natural, low-stress methods first.
For us, that means:
- Keeping birds in the barnyard system
- Reducing tall grass and brush near pig areas
- Watching bedding and shaded resting spots
- Checking pigs regularly, especially behind the ears and under the belly
- Avoiding unnecessary chemical use when good management can do the job
If you do use sprays, make sure the product is appropriate for pigs and follow the label carefully. When in doubt, ask a livestock veterinarian before treating an animal directly.
Barnyard Birds Are Not a Magic Fix
Guinea fowl and chickens help a lot, but they are not magic. You may still find a tick once in a while, especially in heavy tick seasons, wooded areas, or tall grass.
Good tick control works best as a system. Birds help. Mowing helps. Clean bedding helps. Daily eyes on the pigs help. None of those things have to be complicated, but they do need to be consistent.
What We Recommend
For farms raising Kunekune pigs, especially in tick-heavy areas like Missouri, we highly recommend considering barnyard birds as part of your pest-control plan.
If you can handle guinea fowl, they are excellent tick hunters. If guineas are too noisy or too hard to manage for your setup, chickens are a good practical option. Even a small flock living around the barn can make a noticeable difference over time.
Final Thoughts
Ticks are never completely gone from a Missouri farm, but they can be managed. Our experience has been simple: when we brought birds into the barnyard system, the tick pressure dropped. We still check our pigs, and we still stay realistic, but we do not fight ticks the way we used to.
For Kunekune owners, that is the kind of management we like best: practical, natural, low-stress, and built into the everyday rhythm of the farm.