Code:
alias testtimer {
  echo -a $ticks 
  timertest $+ $ticks -ho 1 0 testtimer
}
works for me
Code:
151583593
* Timer test151583593 activated
151583608
* Timer test151583608 activated
* Timer test151583593 halted
151583624
* Timer test151583624 activated
* Timer test151583608 halted
151583639
* Timer test151583639 activated
* Timer test151583624 halted
151583655
* Timer test151583655 activated
* Timer test151583639 halted
151583671
* Timer test151583671 activated
* Timer test151583655 halted
151583686
* Timer test151583686 activated
* Timer test151583671 halted
151583702
* Timer test151583702 activated
* Timer test151583686 halted
151583717
* Timer test151583717 activated
* Timer test151583702 halted
151583733
* Timer test151583733 activated
* Timer test151583717 halted
151583749
* Timer test151583749 activated
* Timer test151583733 halted
151583764
* Timer test151583764 activated
* Timer test151583749 halted
151583780