Keeping Fleas Out Of Your Yard
By villageanne
@villageanne (8553)
United States
May 2, 2007 11:20am CST
I have a puppy and two cats that stay indoors all the time. My puppy only goes out to use the bathroom or when I go somewhere. A few years ago we get infested by fleas and it took weeks to get rid of them. I was thankful that I did not have carpet for fear that it would have taken even longer to rid our home of the fleas.
Since our pets were only indoors, the only way the fleas could have gotten into the home was on our clothing. So dont ever think that just because your pets are not outdoors that you are safe from flea infestation in your home.
We hate to use chemicals in our home or in our yard.
We were forced to purchase commercial chemicals to put on our pet and fog our home. After that was completed, we had to spray all the cloth furniture with chemicals.
Since that time, we have been looking for a safer way to prevent fleas from ever reaching our yard. We knew that the bird, Puple Martin was a natural way to do this. Purple Martins are great for eating bugs that are bothersome both to our garden and our pets. Their diet is diverse, including dragonflies, damselflies, flies, midges, mayflies, stinkbugs, leafhoppers, Japanese beetles, June bugs, butterflies, moths, grasshoppers, cicadas, bees, wasps, flying ants, and ballooning spiders. That is exactly what we wanted.
For Christmas, my husband made me a Purple Marin House. It is beautiful and we were in hopes that we can attract Purple Martins to this house. Well we have managed to do just that. They are building in it as we speak.
I have attached a picture of the purple martin house that my husband made for me.
8 people like this
14 responses
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
2 May 07
boy I dread the fleas, never had a problem till we got the cat. The dogs might have one or two on them occassionally - but since the cat came, wow! and they are cat fleas (that live on both cats and dogs)
I have the fogger I purchased a few years ago - but, I am too afraid to use it. I worry about the chemicals on things.
my father has a myeloprolific blood disorder, and leukemia - as well as just having esophageal cancer taken care of.
He always fogged his yard and bombed his home...and I can't help but wander if all those chemicals led to his illness.
so, for now at least, we are using the frontline. yeah, I know *Chemicals* directly on our pet :( maybe that is why our little Mitts got lymphoma. augh.
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
2 May 07
Frontline is what we use too but I am really hoping that the purple martin will eat all the fleas so we dont have to use the frontline so much. That would be ideal.
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
3 May 07
Go to this site and read this
http://purplemartin.org/main/mgt.html
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
3 May 07
Oh, fantastic! I did not know that about the purple martins eating fleas! is it terribly difficult to establish a community? (I have not checked the website out, but will after I submit this)
We are grateful for the bats we have as they keep the mosquito population down tremendously. and the muscovey ducks take care of flies....the guineas somewhat tame the ticks (still too many of them!) so if purple martins will help to eradicate fleas - I'm getting me a martin condo!
@student7 (1002)
• United States
3 May 07
I have put garlic in my pets food. I had a really bad infestation of fleas and we put in garlic in the food and around the house and it decreased the fleas considerably. Also if you put eucalyptus around the yard, it will rid the fleas as well.
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
3 May 07
I have recently read that putting eucalyptus essential oil on your dog (at the base of the neck and a line running to the tail) will also ward of fleas. I am willing to try this, I like the smell of eucalyptus anyhow. The garlic that you use, is it crushed, whole, minced, dried or ?
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
2 May 07
I remember reading somewhere that using lavendar oil was one way to kill fleas on pets. I get so sick of watching our cats itch. Fortunately we haven't had an infestation inside.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
2 May 07
I understand how you feel about fleas...they are not my idea of friends either. It is possible that your pup could have gotten fleas in just going outdoors to pee. My guys are indoor dogs as well.
I add brewer's yeast and garlic powder to their food. It makes the dogs give off a smell that fleas don't like. In over 20 years, have never had a flea problem.
1 person likes this
@66jerseygirl (3877)
• United States
2 May 07
I don't blame you1 I don't like using chemicals around the house or yard either . I had never heard of purple marins before.thanks for the info
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
2 May 07
Thanks so much. We used to have penny royal at out other home but we had not planted it here. Maybe that is something that I should do. It would look good in the back yard next to the garden.
@keepermykitty (2573)
• Canada
3 May 07
That is so cool they are beautiful houses and as long as the Purple Martins work I`m Happy for you . Although I must admit I have never heard this before ...
I hope it does I was infested last year WOW what a job trying to get rid of them ...
GOOD LUCK !!!!
1 person likes this
@nancygibson (3736)
• France
2 May 07
If you do get fleas, a lit candle secured into a pan of soapy water overnight will catch loads of them. They are lured by the warmth then fall into the soapy water and drown. In a badly infested house it can be quite scary how many you catch.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
3 May 07
I have never heard of a purple martin bird, I was at a friends place just last week and she had just gotten back from the vet because her dog is infested with fleas that she thinks is getting them from a stray cat that hangs around but I don't think we have purple marting birds here in Australia...
1 person likes this
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
2 May 07
Thats a really nice birdhouse your husband made for you. I have never heard of a Purple Martin. I wonder if they are in my area. I have a big problem with fleas where I live. And I am not really thrilled about using those chemicals either.
1 person likes this
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
3 May 07
this is such a clean trick to be rid of the fleas in your yard, villageanne. but this is one trick that we cannot adopt in our area. we love to have birds around us but these are not purple martins that come and feed on the chicken feed that we give our chickens.
@maclinda (91)
• United States
3 May 07
Here are a few inexpensive, safe things you can do.
Essential oils of lavendar, lemon, cedar, and citronella are good bug repellents. You can use all or just one, whichever you choose. (If I only bought one, it would probably be lavendar since it's also unbeatable to use for any kind of burn). Put water in a spray bottle with a little essential oil, shake well and spray around your house. You don't want it so strong it's like perfume! Just a bit repels fleas. If you had carpets, you could also put a few drops into baking soda, mix and sprinkle on the carpet (great air freshener that way).
For directly on the dog, cut up a lemon and drop it into a pint of hot water and let soak overnight. Dab the water directly onto the dog.
Borax sprinkled on the floor kills flea larvae. Might be awkward at your house though with no carpets.
You could spray the essential oil mixture onto your clothing when you go out to repel any fleas that might hitch a ride in with you. It also wouldn't hurt to spray it on porches/patios and in the surrounding grass.
1 person likes this
@CoffeeAnyone (3210)
• Canada
3 May 07
Oh I love this! Your husband built you a bird house for the birds to come and they did. I guess it is true. Build it and they will come! Right! Wow will you write again and tell us about the babies? How many of them? Maybe a picture?
