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 Names in
Crystal, Minnesota
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Crystal Minnesota,
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. Crystal
Minnesota also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Crystal Minnesota, 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 Crystal MN.
Baby Chicks In The Mail in
Crystal, Minnesota
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Crystal Minnesota
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
Crystal Minnesota * 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 Crystal
Minnesota * 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 And
Ducks in
Crystal, Minnesota
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
Crystal Minnesota 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 Crystal,
Minnesota Baby chicks are extremely
adorable and
tough to stand up to,
however it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by gathering not just the
appropriate products, but
also the appropriate
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
simple, you simply need
to supply them with the following: A tidy and also warm
environment A lot of food and also water Interest and also
love Habitat Your habitat could be an easy box, aquarium,
cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to start, and also after a
couple of weeks use straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing only
newspaper or other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You additionally need
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Likewise, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
into the environment to obtain them
educated on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you need to
supply them with a heat source.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could occupy to 2 months). The newly
hatched out require a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and weekly this can
be decreased by
roughly 5 levels approximately. The heat source should get on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your heat
light, you need to
lower the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not simply curling up),
you need to put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is key and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to alter
the bed linen
usually and also
consistently supply clean
food and water Food and water.
Chicks expand really quickly
which calls for lots of clean
food and also water. Give
enough in any way times as well
as check
frequently to
stop dehydrated as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first two months, then
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
then to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others will not use up that task till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Interest as well as love There are a
few benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. First off, they will certainly probably bond with you as well as
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
view their habits, you could
catch health problem or other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
other harmful
signs. Be sure to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could bring about matted plumes and also clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is necessary to look out
for social problems, such as the
littlest chick obtaining picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are now completely feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
as well as move outside into a
coop. Take a look at our
part on chicken coops to learn more
concerning cages as well as
proper coop habitats.
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