I have been intrigued with neem oil for some time. Something exotic about it. When I first planted tomatoes in north Georgia four years ago, and they were overwhelmed by aphids, neem came to my rescue. Aphids were never a problem again, not because of the neem but my voracious ladybug population. (This week I have been collecting my overwintering ladybug guests and ushering them out to their workplace in my vegetable garden). My second recourse to neem was a couple years ago when the stinkbugs arrived. With my pistol grip sprayer I doused the offenders and they looked dazed and disgusted. Last year I awaited them but they did not arrive, again not due to neem but to some mysterious forces at work. And so my neem oil sat unused in the cool basement for more than a year, until last week when it was recalled to the front line.
But a word about neem. A neat little book by John Conrick titled “Neem The Ultimate Herb” goes into much detail on its origins and uses. He traces its first use as a medical treatment to 4,500 years ago. He states it is a major element in preventing and healing diseases among Ayurvedic practitioners (a system of traditional medicine in India). The neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is a tropical evergreen which grows in much of Southeast Asia, welcomes extreme heat of up to 120 F but will not tolerate hard freezes – so unlikely to call my yard home. My interest is not in its medical properties, or how it is made, but its use for insect control. Unlike synthetic pesticides, most of which have quick acting nerve toxins, neem’s main action is as an anti-feedant, which dissuades pests from eating neem covered plants. It can also reduce an insect’s ability to reproduce. No wonder the stinkbugs looked dazed and disgusted! Conrick also mentions that neem has been found to be beneficial on bees.
So how did I use it as a remedy for my chickens? Our Buff Orpington rooster has a good looking comb but the tips of his comb turned black a few weeks ago from frost bite. He didn’t seem to mind and, as he is becoming more aggressive, I decided to leave him be. Then I noticed black spots at the base of the comb. One of the Golden Comets tried to peck at his comb (for food or as a grooming favor?) and he discouraged her endeavors. But this made me think that this was an insect problem not a frost bite issue. So how to treat it? Diatomaceous earth and Sevin dust have been suggested for mites and lice etc. but I didn’t want to powder a young vigorous rooster near his eyes. I also didn’t want to use a synthetic treatment given my recent success with an organic treatment, psyllium, for chicken crop problems. And then came the idea of neem – I cannot claim credit for this inspiration since I believe it was derived from internet browsing.
Neem is usually mixed with water but I was concerned this mixture could dribble into his eyes. So I took a little dropper bottle and mixed the neem with Johnson’s baby oil at 10% strength i.e. 36 drops of the baby oil and 4 drops of the neem oil (the neem oil is described as having 70% extract of neem oil). Administering the concoction single handed was not as big a challenge as I had thought. I cornered him in the coop, and held him firmly between my knees and then one hand held and pivoted his neck and crown and the other retrieved the pre-charged bulb dropper and doused the infected areas with the mixed oils. After initial hysterical protestations he submitted to the treatment. A day later most of the black infestation was gone and two days later he was cured. Easy enough now but, when his spurs are developed, I do not think this will be a happy experience for either of us.
This winter was very mild and the bugs are out and about and multiplying. I really would like not to use any organic treatments this year. I am hoping that with my expanded beneficial insects army and diverse plantings and good compost and strong plants I will be able to withstand the onslaught. Except in the month of August when we tend to become overwhelmed and then the best is to cut back on the plantings (so as not to subsidize future generations), and look the other way. But if I have to, then neem will be reactivated.
Raising Baby Chickens in
Foresthill, California
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Foresthill California,
including Sussex Chickens, Welsummer Chickens, Turken Chickens and more.
Be sure to check out the Bargain Specials, as you can combine different
egg layers in smaller amounts and buy as an assortment. Foresthill
California also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Foresthill California, bantams for sale, ducks for sale, geese for sale,
turkeys for sale, guinea for sale, peafowl for sale, pheasant for sale,
chukar partridge for sale, bobwhite for sale, many different breeds of
baby chicks for sale in Foresthill CA.
Baby Chickens
For Sale Near Me in
Foresthill, California
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Foresthill California
catalog is a yearly traditions in many houses. My kids and I eagerly await
the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog. We love looking at all the cool and
different chicken breeds available. Catalogs are free so head on over to
their site and request one if you are interested.
Typically hatcheries online offer both standard breeds
and bantams. Bantams are fun hardy little chickens, they lay tiny eggs
that kids especially love collecting. Bantams typically weigh less than 2
pounds when full grown. Just like ordering anything online there are pros
and cons to ordering baby chicks online. Pros of buying baby chicks in
Foresthill California * Big Selection - If you are wanting a large
variety of different chicken breeds and egg colors, you will find the best
selection at an online hatchery. * Both Bantams and full sized chickens
available * You get to choose what sex you want. If you want a mixture of
both male and female then choosing a "straight run" will save you money
and you will get a mixture of male and female chicks. You can also choose
all males or all females too. * Weekly specials. Hatcheries have sales on
chicks, you are likely to get a good deal if you are flexible with the
breeds you are wanting. Cons of buying baby chicks in Foresthill
California * Order early to get the best selection. Certain breeds sell
out fast, sometimes as early as 6 months in advance of shipping! If you
are wanting a certain breed it's best to order your chicks in the fall
before their orders sell out.
Baby Chicks Habitat in
Foresthill, California
Quantity - you must order a certain number of chicks. Typically hatcheries
will require you buy a minimum of 25 chicks at a time. The number is
necessary for the chicks survival during shipping. All 25 chicks are put
in one small box without heat. They are crowded in the box and produce
enough body heat to arrive in good shape. * The wait - If you choose to
buy chicks from a feed store you will have them the same day but if you
choose to go with a hatchery you have to wait until they are ready to ship
and then wait for the chicks to arrive. Ordering baby chicks online in
Foresthill California is easy and has always been a very pleasant
experience of me. It can be a little frustrating waiting for the chicks
but it's so worth the wait. When the post office calls and you hear all
those little "cheeps" or "chirps" in the background you'll know the wait
was worth it! How to Care for your new baby chickens in Foresthill,
California Baby chicks are quite
charming and also
difficult to withstand,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by compiling not only the
right materials, but
likewise the correct
understanding to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
basic, you merely should give them with the following: A tidy as well as warm and comfortable
environment Plenty of food and also water Focus and also
love Environment Your habitat can be a
simple box, fish tank,
pet cat service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without loose
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You likewise need
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food and also a pet bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
into the habitat to get them
educated on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you should
supply them with a heat resource.
This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb likewise function effectively (my
referral). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can take up to 2 months). The newly
hatched require a temperature
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and also each week this can
be minimized by
around 5 degrees or
so. The warmth resource should be on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your warmth
light, you need to
minimize the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not just curling up),
you need to include some warmth.
House cleaning
Tidiness is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to transform
the bedding
typically and also
constantly provide clean
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks expand extremely quick
which requires a lot of clean
food and also water. Supply
enough whatsoever times and examine
frequently to prevent dehydrated and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first two months, after that
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others will not take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Attention and also love There are a couple of benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. To start
with, they will more than likely bond with you and also
not flee as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
watch their behavior, you could
capture health problem or various
other problems previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
indications. Be sure to
additionally look at
their poop, as diarrhea could result in matted plumes as well
as blocked cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
smallest chick obtaining picked
on. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
and move outside right into a cage. Have a look at our
area on chicken coops to learn more
about cages as well as
appropriate cage habitats.
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