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
Chickens Under Heat Lamp in
Victor, Iowa
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Victor Iowa,
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. Victor
Iowa also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Victor Iowa, 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 Victor IA.
Baby Chickens Sale in
Victor, Iowa
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Victor Iowa
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
Victor Iowa * 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 Victor
Iowa * 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 Raising in
Victor, Iowa
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
Victor Iowa 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 Victor,
Iowa Baby chicks are very
charming as well as
hard to withstand,
however it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not only the
right products, yet
additionally the correct
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
easy, you just have to offer them with the following: A
clean as well as warm and comfortable
environment A lot of food and water Attention as well as
love Environment Your habitat can be a basic box, fish tank,
pet cat provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (with no loose
strings!) to begin, and after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid utilizing only
newspaper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You additionally need
something to dish out food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and a pet bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Also, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
educated on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you need to
provide them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally function effectively (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can use
up to two months). The recently
hatched require a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
and each week this can
be lowered by
about 5 levels approximately. The warmth source need to get on merely one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other edge of your heat
light, you have to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not just snuggling),
you should add some heat.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is key and also it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to alter
the bedding
usually as well as
constantly supply clean
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks expand extremely quickly
which needs lots of clean
food as well as water. Give
sufficient at all times and also examine
usually to avoid parched as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and after that to a somewhat
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't use up that activity until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to bathe in.
Interest and love There are a
few advantages to spending time with your chicks. To start
with, they will most
likely bond with you and
not run away as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
see their actions, you can
capture ailment or various
other troubles earlier. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
various other undesirable
indicators. Be sure to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted feathers and also clogged cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to look out
for social problems, such as the
littlest chick obtaining teased. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are now completely feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
and also move outside right into a cage. Look into our
area on chicken coops to find out
more
concerning coops and also
appropriate cage environments.
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