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Baby Chickens for Sale in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

Baby Chickens for Sale in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

neem oil – a remedy for chickens

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 for Sale in Wynnewood 
PA

Baby Chicks Information in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Wynnewood Pennsylvania, 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. Wynnewood Pennsylvania also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Wynnewood Pennsylvania, 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 Wynnewood PA.

Baby Chicks Needs in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Wynnewood Pennsylvania 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. Baby Chickens for Sale in Wynnewood 
PATypically 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 Wynnewood Pennsylvania * 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 Wynnewood Pennsylvania * 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 For Sale in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

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 Wynnewood Pennsylvania 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 Wynnewood, Pennsylvania Baby chicks are very adorable as well as challenging to resist, but it's ideal to plan for their arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially by collecting not only the proper products, but also the proper expertise to take care of them. Raising baby chicks is fairly straightforward, you merely should give them with the following: A clean and cozy habitat Lots of food and also water Interest and also love Habitat Your habitat could be a basic box, fish tank, feline provider, or guinea porker cage. Line it with old towels and also blankets (without any loose strings!) to start, as well as after a couple of weeks make use of straw over paper. Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just newspaper or various other slipper surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow misshapen. You additionally require something to provide food and water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle container lid for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Likewise, as the chicks get older you can present a perch right into the habitat to obtain them educated on setting down. Warmth To maintain your chicks warm 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 lamp from a hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth light bulb likewise function very well (my referral). Chicks require this heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is changed with plumes (which could take up to 2 months). The newly hatched out require a temperature level between 90 and 100 levels, and each week this could be decreased by about 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource should get on merely one side of the cage to permit chicks a range of temperatures. The chicks are your best thermostat- if they are concealing in the contrary edge of your heat light, you should reduce the temperature level. If they are smothering each various other under the warmth (not just snuggling), you need to put some heat. Home cleaning Tidiness is crucial and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Be sure to change the bed linens frequently and always provide clean food and water Food and water. Chicks expand extremely fast which calls for lots of tidy food and also water. Give sufficient in any way times as well as check frequently to prevent thirsty as well as hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the very first two months, then change to a grower food (~ 17 % healthy protein) for an additional 2 months, and afterwards to a somewhat reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed (if you have levels). Soil Some chicks like to get a running start on taking dirt baths, while others won't occupy that task up until they are older. If you have the area in your chick room, introduce a tray of sand or dust for them to wash in. Focus and also love There are a couple of benefits to spending time with your chicks. To start with, they will most likely bond with you and not flee as adults. Second, if you analyze your chicks daily and also view their actions, you could capture ailment or various other problems earlier. Keep an eye out for hissing, hopping, or other harmful signs. Be sure to also look at their poop, as looseness of the bowels can bring about matted plumes and also clogged cloaca. Finally, it is very important to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the smallest chick obtaining picked on. Empty nest syndrome So your chicks are currently completely feathery as well as its time for them to leave the safety and security of your house and also relocate outside into a cage. Have a look at our part on chicken coops to read more concerning cages as well as appropriate coop habitats.
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