Gardening with my chickens "organically"

[sdelgado19]

I had a bad infestation of woolly apple aphids attack my four, (40yr old) apple trees so I sprayed an organic pest killer called Bon Neem insecticide soap. Now of course after I sprayed it rained...and probably will continue to rain for a few days. My question is, how long before I can let the chickens back out to scratch under the trees?

I'm super paranoid and normally I hate chemicals, but unfortunately I acted before completely thinking it through. The spray was only a 1:50 dilution but unfortunately to thoroughly wet a tree of these sizes a lot of this stuff ended up on the ground. And the trees are were the girls like to free range. Thankfully the area is capable of being fenced off if needed but I hate to do it as this small orchard is their main source of shade in the hot summer days.

 

[Elaine Wright]

I'd read the MSD. Since it's soap, it should wash away in the rain. How much rain are you getting?

 

[sdelgado19]

What is the msd? and yes it is a "soap" but its also derived from Neem oil plant which is technically toxic to a degree or it wouldn't kill the bugs lol

I know the packaging said to reapply every 7-14 days, so I am assuming that at 14 days it should be fairly well washed from the soil. And as far as rain, I live in a Steppe climate so probably about an inch a day? Perhaps a bit more if the weather swings that way since we are getting thunderstorms the next few days,..thankfully the soap said it kills on contact since i know a lot of it is now getting washed off my trees.

 

[Elaine Wright]

Oops - auto correct. MDS=Manufacturer data sheet. We use that product, but I never try to remember what it says. I would probably feel safe after a couple of inches of rain. I live in nw washington state, so I get rain & "coop fever".

 

[sdelgado19]

I haven't used this product since before I had chickens. Also the MDS was very unhelpfull it states "hazardous to humans and pets" but then goes on to describe inhalation issues and washing skin after contact and that was it. Nothing about harmful if swallowed ironically enough. With the rain and what not I think i will just play it safe and keep the chickens locked up for a week to allow the area to thoroughly dry up. The chemical says to reapply in seven days so I think that means it will be pretty inert by then.

 

[aart]

I haven't used this product since before I had chickens. Also the MDS was very unhelpfull it states "hazardous to humans and pets" but then goes on to describe inhalation issues and washing skin after contact and that was it. Nothing about harmful if swallowed ironically enough. With the rain and what not I think i will just play it safe and keep the chickens locked up for a week to allow the area to thoroughly dry up. The chemical says to reapply in seven days so I think that means it will be pretty inert by then.

The 7 days is probably due to insect life cycle timing.

I know a lot of folks use Neem in their coop for pests, tho I don't think it's been tested for poultry meat and egg withdrawal.
Might want to search 'use of neem on organic poultry'.
Just an idea.