How to become self-sufficient (kinda) with chickens.

[The Zoo]

like regular dishwashing detergent?

 

[coderpitt]

I use insecticidal soap. I take 1 tablespoon of Ivory Snow laundry detergent and add it to 1 gallon of water. I spray my veggies once per week and it works awesome for aphids. I've done this for a year and a half.

Sincerely,
Robert

 

[LittleFeat]

Quote:
Yes just liquid hand dishwashing soap.

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

Dish soap and water is one that I have heard of also. The context of that discussion was keeping them off roses in Utah. I haven't tried it, but can attest that aphids in Arizonalove cauliflower. Now, for one I have only heard of once...

At a lecture on the wonders of whole grains and the evils of white flour (not intended to start a new subject or express my own view, just giving context of the lecture), she told us some very interesting stories to make her point. One had to do with killing roaches. She mixed the roach poison with whole grain flour and they ate it up. Her neighbor used white flour to mix with the poison and couldn't get the bugs to touch it. She also said her son in South Texas (this lecture was in Utah) used white flour in a sprayer thing, and doused his garden with a mist of white flour...and that it worked like a charm to keep the bugs away. Now, she was clearly trying to make a point to avoid white flour, which does have some merit, however, I am not sure how much she might have exaggerated her stories to make her point. That said, I have always thought that white flour as a bug deterrent in the garden was a great idea...if it worked. If anyone has any info on this, I would be most interested.

Holly

 

[Monk]

Quote:
Inspect plants frequently and blast colonies with a jet of water from the garden hose. Soap and water spray, 1 teaspoon of dishsoap to 1 gallon of water, can be effective. Add a layer of aluminum foil around the base of plants. This reflects light onto the underside of leaves, making them an undesirable habitat. Lady bugs are natural enemies. Sprays of nicotine sulfate are also effective. Once they become numerous, aphids can be difficulty to control though.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Spraying with water has an attractant quality for beneficials too. I had a major aphid infestation in my plum tree. I sprayed it with water one evening (which aerosolized the aphid nectar) and the next morning thousands of soldier beetles and ladybugs had arrived to eat all the aphids. It was a sight to behold. Now I will always seed my area with beneficials. It's like having a little army at the ready.

 

[The Zoo]

Out of 7 tomato plants the yellow peach is the only one with an issue and they're all next to each other. I had worried that I had fusarium wilt but I think it's just the aphids. We've been gone for several days so didn't get to check on the garden and that one tomato has gotten pretty yellow.

I'm going to cut off all the yellow leaves and spray it - thanks for the help! Yellow peach are *tasty* tomatoes!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I know this is an old post but does anyone feed Comfrey to the flock now? I read somewhere that it makes good feed, but can't find it now. Thanks

 

[tasymo]

I've got a big comfrey plant growing in my yard that my six hens love. I've tried planting in a few other spots, but they devour the babies before they can get established. The big plant does fine because it was well established before I got my chickens. I have dried it, and given them the dried leaves in the Wintertime, which they always gobble up, but I think they prefer the fresh stuff! Comfrey is very easy to grow, but you will need to protect it from your flock, until the plants get big enough to withstand them "trimming" them for you.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
My Comfrey plants are huge and where they are planted is right where they all forage but don't seem to mess with it, but I can cut off 2 or 3 leaves and hang it out in there lot and it is picked clean in minutes

But I did have one plant in my front yard and they devoured it last year and it never did come back. Doesn't seem to bother them either, some folks think it's not good for them. Thanks for replying!