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.
Baby Chicks Price in
Frankfort, Indiana
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Frankfort Indiana,
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. Frankfort
Indiana also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Frankfort Indiana, 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 Frankfort IN.
Baby Chickens How To Raise in
Frankfort, Indiana
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Frankfort Indiana
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
Frankfort Indiana * 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 Frankfort
Indiana * 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 Chickens Facts in
Frankfort, Indiana
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
Frankfort Indiana 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 Frankfort,
Indiana Baby chicks are very
charming and
hard to withstand,
however it's finest to plan for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
correct materials, yet
additionally the correct
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
simple, you simply need
to offer them with the following: A
clean and warm
habitat A lot of food as well
as water Interest as well as
love Habitat Your environment could be a basic box, fish tank,
feline service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (with no loose
strings!) to begin, and after a few weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing only
paper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You also need
something to provide food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Also, as the chicks get
older you could introduce a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you need to
supply them with a heat source.
This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb additionally function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could take up to two months). The newly
hatched require a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
as well as weekly this could
be minimized by
roughly 5 degrees or
so. The heat resource ought
to get on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
opposite edge of your heat
lamp, you should
lower the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not just cuddling),
you have to put some heat.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is vital and also it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to alter
the bedding
typically and also
always give clean
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand very quick
which calls for plenty of clean
food and also water. Give
sufficient whatsoever times as well
as examine
often to
stop thirsty and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, then
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a somewhat
lower healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a running start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others will not take
up that task till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to bathe in.
Attention as well as love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First off, they will more than likely bond with you and also
not flee as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
watch their behavior, you can
capture health problem or other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
indications. Make certain to
also consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can lead
to matted plumes and also stopped up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to look out
for social issues, such as the
smallest chick obtaining badgered. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently fully feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your residence
and also move outside into a cage. Have a look at our
area on chicken coops to find out
more
regarding cages as well as
correct cage environments.
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