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 Facts in
Windom, Minnesota
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Windom 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. Windom
Minnesota also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Windom 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 Windom MN.
Baby Chickens Online in
Windom, Minnesota
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Windom 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
Windom 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 Windom
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 On
Sale in
Windom, 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
Windom 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 Windom,
Minnesota Baby chicks are really
cute and
hard to resist,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
right products, but
also the correct
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you just should supply them with the following: A
clean as well as warm and comfortable
habitat Lots of food and water Interest and also
love Environment Your environment can be a straightforward box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (with no loosened
strings!) to start, and also after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid using just
newspaper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You likewise need
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Likewise, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
trained on perching. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you have to
offer them with a warmth source.
This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb likewise work effectively (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can take up to 2 months). The freshly
hatched out require a temperature level
between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
and also weekly this can
be decreased by
around 5 levels or
so. The warmth resource should be on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
opposite edge of your heat
lamp, you have to
lower the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
heat (not just curling up),
you need to add some heat.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is essential as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to change
the bed linen
commonly and also
consistently supply tidy
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks grow really quick
which calls for lots of clean
food and water. Give
enough in any way times and also check
often to
stop dehydrated as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is different than adult chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't take
up that activity until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Focus and also love There are a
few benefits to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly most
likely bond with you as well as
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
view their actions, you can
capture ailment or various
other issues earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
various other harmful
indicators. Make sure to
also check out
their poop, as diarrhea could lead
to matted feathers and also stopped up cloaca.
Lastly, it is essential to watch out for social problems, such as the
littlest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
and relocate outside into a
coop. Take a look at our
section on chicken cages to read more
regarding coops and
proper coop environments.
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