Problems with fleas/ticks?

[Vitus]

At Ace get "safer" brand diatomaceus earth. Make sure you have a dry place your chickens can take dust baths in it. Use flea killer and then Dust your cats and dogs a bit daily. Wash or through out animal bedding. Treat around house with sevin dust. If the mites infest your house you will have to shave your heads and buy new mattresses and furniture. Really..

[Midnight Rambler]

If they're in your house but you don't have birds (or rats, if you get rat mites which are similar) constantly coming around anymore, you don't need anything but wait. They can bite but can't reproduce without their natural host. Every time I go to Kokee on Kauai I come back with them because of the chickens all around there. They disappear after about six weeks. I wonder if there's been some kind of increase or new type of them introduced, because this never happened before about three years ago.

Also, be careful with diatomaceous earth. It's not poisonous per se but you really don't want to breath it or get it in your eyes. It kills bugs by abrading their exoskeletons so they end up drying out, but breathing those tiny bits of sharp stuff is bad for your lungs.