Perky Pet 209 Hummingbird Feeder is our best feeder yet.

Make your yard hummingbird central with the Perky-Pet 209 Hummingbird Feeder. This large-capacity feeder holds up to 30 ounces of feed, with six feeding ports to keep hungry hummers satisfied. With more places to feed than your average feeder, hummingbirds will come from miles around.
The Perky Pet 209 Humming Bird Feeder reservoir holds up to 30 ounces of nectar.
The Perky Pet 209 Humming Bird Feeder features a unique, removable circular perch, so you can choose whether to let hummingbirds settle or feed on the go. Nectar is stored in the clear glass reservoir, which is more durable than plastic reservoirs while still letting you monitor nectar levels. The reservoir also unscrews easily from the feeder base for quick cleaning and filling. For best results, clean the hummingbird feeder with a mild soap and water solution at least twice a week to prevent mold or residue from building up.
Attracting Hummingbirds is a must if you intend to feed them.

The feeder is easy to mount thanks to the included hanger, which suspends from nearly any branch or hook. To attract more hummingbirds, users should locate the feeder away from sun and wind. Sun may cause the nectar mixture to turn bad, while wind may swing the feeder around, causing the mixture to spill. Tying a red ribbon on the feeder wire or pole may also help hummingbirds find the feeder, as will adding a water source, such as a birdbath or bird waterer.

Hummingbird Season Information

Start adding nectar to your feeder in early spring. Hummingbirds typically begin their journey north around March or April, as the warm weather begins. They remain in the region throughout the summer months, and begin to migrate back south once the flowers cease blooming and insects are scarce. By late September, almost all hummers have moved on to warmer climates for the winter. Online migration maps are a great way to track when the hummingbirds will be arriving in your area.

Find out more about the Perky Pet 209 Hummingbird Feeder Here!

Purina Honor Show Chow and Rachel Kaplan’s Recipe for Success

After exhibiting the 2012 Grand Champion Lamb at the Southwestern Livestock Show in Fort Worth, TX, Rachel Kaplan, 17, credits the key ingredients for success in the show ring as starting with a good, quality animal, putting in long hours of hard work at home and then having a little bit of luck on show day.

“Showing animals has taught me that hard work, showmanship, dedication and setting goals will pay off sooner or later,” Rachel said. “I set goals when I started showing and have added to them since then and stuck to the plan. Nothing worth having is usually easy, but when you reach a goal it is very rewarding.”

Rachel started showing animals and setting goals when she was just 8 years old.

“My Dad showed lambs from the time he was 8 years old all the way through high school, and he got my older sister, Hannah, and I started as soon as we could show,” Rachel said. “I show lambs and goats. My sister and I started with lambs because that’s what my dad knew. I started showing goats early in my show career when the Texas major shows started having the lamb and goat shows at the same time. We thought since we were going to be at the shows with lambs, we might as well have a goat too!”

For the first several years that Rachel and her sister showed, the family attended all the jackpot shows they could get to during the summer and fall to get the girls ring experience.

“The year I won the Texas Junior Livestock Association All Around award I showed in 50+ jackpot shows, then all the Texas majors,” Rachel said. “I have shown in several hundred shows since I started showing. The last couple of years we have cut back on the number of jackpot shows but still show at the Texas State Fair, Fort Worth, San Antonio, San Angelo, Houston and Star of Texas Show in Austin. My favorite win was this last year when I showed the Grand Champion Lamb at Fort Worth. This was my first major show to win and it’s been a goal of mine since I started showing. The feeling of accomplishment and knowing that all your hard work paid off is an awfully good feeling when you’re fortunate enough to win.”

Rachel is a varsity cheerleader, yearbook editor, National Honor Society member and Spanish National Honor Society member at Calallen High School in Corpus Christi, TX. She finds that showing has taught her how to better manage her time.

“My favorite part of showing is the time I’ve been able to spend with my family at the barn, looking for animals and going to shows,” Rachel said. “I’ve also been able to make friends with people from all over Texas and Oklahoma that I would have never met without the show barn.”

Rachel has four tips of advice to younger showman and/or those interested in or considering showing:

• Get in the show ring as much as possible for ring experience.
• Pick one knowledgeable person/family member as your coach and stick with their advice. Everyone has their own opinion on how things should be done and if you ask ten people a question, you will probably get ten different answers.
• Start off showing smaller lightweight animals. It’s awfully hard to show bigger animals when you’re small, and if you don’t get them shown in the ring you don’t have a chance of being successful.
• Get in a routine of feeding and working with the animals at home and stick with it.

Taking care of her animals, also means making sure they are receiving the proper nutritionally balanced diet for a successful ring experience.

“We have fed Honor® Show Chow® to our lambs for several years,” Rachel said. “Honor® Show Chow® provides a very consistent feed with top quality ingredients on a year round basis. Since being on this feed our animals have been able to reach their full genetic potential.”

With only one more year of showing left, Rachel is planning on having a successful senior year in the show ring and after graduation attending Texas A&M University, where her sister currently attends and both her parents are alumni.

Strawberries have it all – they’re naturally sweet, loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, and easy to grow. The sweetest, most flavorful berries will always be the ones that come straight from your garden. Learn when and how to plant strawberries, how to grow strawberries, and best of all, how to harvest the delicate berries and eat them fresh or in desserts! If you don’t have a garden where you can plant them in the ground, then grow strawberries in containers. However you choose to plant and grow strawberries, your taste buds will thank you.

To grow strawberries successfully you should understand their life cycle. Like most hardy perennials, strawberries die back in winter and start growing vigorously as the soil warms in spring. After bearing fruit (as early as February in Florida, or June farther north), strawberries produce numerous runners with baby plants at the tips. Many runners root themselves nearby yet remain attached to the mother plant. All types of strawberries produce more fruit if you clip off most of the runners, allowing each plant to produce no more than 3 daughter plants each summer.
Exhausted from producing fruit and offspring, strawberries typically take a second rest period during summer’s second half. When kept weeded and lightly watered, most parent plants – and their offspring – perk up and grow again for a while in the fall. Even though it may look like little is going on with strawberries in September, the plants are busy during the fall months developing the latent buds that will grow into next spring’s flowers.

We can help you grow strawberries.  With quality plants from Bonnie Plants and our expertise, we can help you get things started and keep your strawberries producing for years to come.

Purina® Ultium® Growth Horse Formula is a super-premium, high-fat, high-fiber horse feed researched and formulated specifically for broodmares and young growing horses. Backed by scientific research spanning over four years monitoring and measuring growth curves, body condition, joint health, activity levels, blood work and more, this unique, industry-leading nutrition supports the development, growth and adaptive physiology necessary to produce a strong, healthy, athletic horse.

Feed Form: Pellets and Extruded Nuggets

Recommended For: Mares in foal, lactating mares, sucking foals, weanlings, yearlings and two-year-olds up to skeletal maturity.

Strategy Healthy Edge®

Purina^® Strategy^® Healthy Edge^® horse feed is a high-fat, nutritionally balanced, controlled starch and sugar diet with enhanced great taste researched and formulated to support the health and well-being of adult horses aged 2 years and older. It’s top nutrition to help give your horses a shiny coat, full body condition and strong hooves without the added calories that can make easy keepers obese.

Strategy^® Healthy Edge^® horse feed supports the health and well-being of adult horses aged 2 years and older. Start with the amounts given for the weight and lifestyle of the horse. After observing the horse for a period of time, the amount fed may be increased or decreased by 10% to obtain the desired body condition and weight.

For more information about Strategy Healthy Edge®, Click Here!

Save 29% on this Suncast Patio Storage Bench

With the Suncast Patio Storage Bench, extra storage and seating is now available in one easy – to – assemble solution!  Have you wondered where and how you managed to accumulate all that stuff?  Here’s a flash, own a house long enough and you’re going to accumulate a lot of it.

That includes “stuff” for your lawn, your garden, your bar-b-que grill and patio plants. Finding a place to put it all can be a challenge… until now, that is.

The Suncast Patio Storage Bench assembles in a flash and NO special tools are required.  We’ve found that most people use the Suncast Patio Storage Bench to not only give you a spot for your pool supplies, garden tools and furniture cushions, but it provides an extra spot for your friends and family to take a load off !

The details:
Long-lasting resin construction;
Stay dry design prevents contents from getting soggy;
50-gallon capacity;
Measures 52 3/4 x 34 1/2 x 21″ d.

Don’t let that scattered mess take over your yard this summer! Order yours now! Suncast Patio Storage Bench.

List Price: $140.00
Your Price: $98.97
You Save: $41.03 (29%)

For more information and customer suggestions, Click Here!

Fitting Show Lambs Part 1

Fitting lambs for show requires more than simply shearing them.  Lambs, regardless of breed, should be washed prior to shearing. The only exception to this is when lambs are in long fleece. A clean fleece is easier to shear and extends the life of clipper blades. Any livestock soap or liquid dish washing soap will work extremely well for washing lambs, but be careful to remove all soap when rinsing.
Wash and shear lambs as close to the show day as possible. Most of the major shows do not allow washing after arrival on the show grounds. Lambs that are sheared frequently have a greater tendency to wrinkle or become loose hided.
A blow dryer may be used to hasten drying time. A bath towel is adequate for drying short fleeced lambs in warm weather. Lambs that have a tendency to wrinkle should not be dried with a blow dryer.
Shearing can be done while the lambs’ wool is still damp. Clippers will perform better in loose, damp wool. A pair of electric clippers fitted with a 20-tooth goat comb and 4-point cutter or a 23-tooth comb and 9-
point cutter should be used to ensure smoother, more attractive lambs.
Lambs should be sheared smooth. While shearing, the clippers should run parallel to the length of the body rather than vertically. Shearing parallel to the length of the body makes lambs appear balanced and longer bodied. Wool below the knees and hocks should not be shorn. This “boot” can be carded out and blended in with hand shears or electric clippers. Leaving the wool on the legs also improves the balance and “eye appeal” of lambs. Small animal clippers may be needed to clip closely around the eyes, ears or delicate areas.
Immediately after shearing, cover each lamb with a lamb sock or blanket and hood. A clean, well-bedded pen should be provided to keep lambs clean and dry.

Show Lamb Clippers, Shears, Blades

Oster Showmaster Shearing Clippers

The Oster Showmaster Shearing Clippers are perfect for shearing show lambs.  Multiple shearing combs are available to insure the best show clip.

• Cooler running motor is virtually maintenance free – does not require frequent oiling
• Slower speed option for sensitive areas and nervous animals
• Creates a smooth finished appearance, Superior balance for easy handling and less fatigue
• Includes 3″ shearing head with 20 tooth goat comb and 4 point cutter, Multiple blade options make this a versatile grooming tool
• Set screw cap secures grease hole, Soft touch grip for better control and comfort
• Clearly marked tension knob allows for easier blade adjustment, Variable speed delivers 700-3000 cutting cycles per minute

Suggested Shearing Combs

The 24 Tooth Show Comb is designed for close smooth trimming.  It is safe around the head and underline of the animal.

The 13 Tooth Shearing Comb should be used for the body clip.

The 4 Point Cutting Blade should be used with both combs.

Fitting Show Lambs Part 2

The amount of time required to train a lamb for show depends on the lamb, the physical size and experience of the exhibitor, and the intensity of training. Some lambs are easy to gentle and train for show, while
other lambs are difficult and nearly impossible to train. Most lambs can be trained if enough time and effort are spent. Larger, more experienced exhibitors can handle a wilder lamb, while beginners need a gentle,
well-trained lamb. Some exhibitors spend time training throughout the program, while others start an intensified training program just 2 to 3 weeks before the show.
Halter breaking is an excellent way to begin the gentling process, especially if you have several lambs. Lambs should be caught, haltered with a rope halter, and tied to a fence. Do not tie the lambs where they
can hurt themselves and do not leave tied lambs unattended. While a lamb is tied, you can place the lamb’s feet properly and get it accustomed to setting up.

Lister Body Clippers

As the first permanent magnet motor clipper on the market, the Lister Body Clipper is a powerful, fast and efficient clipper that maintains a constant speed even in areas where the coat becomes particularly thick or dirty. The Lister Body Clipper has a slim, balanced grip for comfort, and is lightweight to ease tiredness when clipping.

Key Features:

•  Overload switch to protect the motor from damage in the event of a jam
• Removable and replaceable air filters for easy maintenance
• Patented ventilated head technology to prevent the blades and head from getting hot and causing discomfort to the animal. This technology will also help to keep the hair away from your face
• Designed and manufactured in the UK
• Includes a carry case with tools and service equipment

Purina Expo Brings New Products To Conroe Feeders Supply

February 6,7 & 8, Purina hosted their Product Expo in Phoenix, Arizona.  Because Conroe Feeders Supply is dedicated to providing you, their customer, with products and services that are up to date and effective, they attended the Purina Expo and Product Training held in Phoenix.

New products were introduced to all dealers in attendance.  Reports of Purina’s past performance were discussed.  Future vision was shared.  Each of these topics was centered around serving the end user in the best possible manner available.

Purina re-committed itself to product research and development emphasizing that in the past they had been the category creators and every other feed company in existence simply fell into the “copy-cat” category when it came to product manufacturing.  Their thrust will be continued product innovation designed to produce better animals and better performance from them.

Be sure to come by the store to check out the new items on display.  Chick Days are currently in effect – come check out the new products and pick up some new chicks.

PRODUCING BROILERS FOR SHOW GUIDE FOR JUNIOR MARKET BROILER SHOWS

These things are a MUST do:

- Observe and follow all show rules and regulations regarding the purchasing and showing of Broilers
- Purchase Pullorum-Typhoid clean broiler chicks
- Use Honor® Show Chow® Branded Products
- Follow recommended management practices during the entire brooding and grow-out period
- Keep records on all expenses and receipts
- Cull birds accurately and select the show pen properly

House Set-up and Pre-brood

♦ Inform your Purina Feed Dealer 2 weeks prior to your needs
♦ It is best if you share your feed program/feed types with Purina Feed Dealer. This allows the dealer to plan his feed orders and ensure fresh, quality, feed throughout your growout period.
♦ Allow two square feet per bird that you start plus allow square footage for feeders and watering equipment
♦ Supply one feeder for every 20 broilers (this is a minimal requirement)
♦ Supply one watering unit for every 15 broilers (this is a minimal requirement)
♦ Place at least 4 inches of litter (pine shavings) throughout the house
♦ Adequate house lighting is needed – 24 hour light is necessary
♦ 40 Watt light bulbs (incandescent / fluorescent) are recommended
♦ Place 1-250 watt RED heat lamps per 25 broilers (this is a minimal requirement)
♦ Have house set-up complete and begin heating the house 3 days prior to receipt of the broilers
♦ Brood temperature (litter temperature) should be 90° F at floor level, 12” from the center beam of the brooder lamp
♦ Water temperature should be 80° F for the first 5 days.
♦ Bird performance will be negatively impacted if the broilers become too warm or cold
♦ Keep fresh air in the houses but avoid cold drafty air on the broilers
♦ Time spent in the broiler house is a major key to the success of your project!!
♦ The more the birds are stimulated, the better performance you gain at the show
♦ Each time someone enters the house, shake the feeders, and slowly walk around the house (stirring the litter), and making the birds get up and eat/drink/exercise. The more time spent in the house, the better the birds perform.
It takes TIME, TIME, TIME!!!!

Pre-brood Dates

2-Weeks Prior – Visit with your feed dealer about feeding plans and
1-Week Prior – Set-up and equip the broiler house with litter and all equipment.
1-Week Prior – Test all equipment including lights, heat lamps, feeders, waterers, etc.
3-Days Prior – Begin heating the broiler house – the key to a good start
1-Day Prior – Check progress of pre-brood temperatures. Make final adjustments if needed.
** NOTE: 1 hours prior to receiving birds, add feed to feeders
Prepare water and place in waterers. Remember water temperature needs to be 80 degrees Farenheit
Receive birds and confirm band numbers at time of placement in the house.
Call Ag Teacher/or 4-H leader within 24 hours of placing the birds if there are discrepancies with band numbers and/or bird health issues.

Week 1

Maintain brood temperature at 90 degrees farenheit
Feed 100% Honor® Show Chow® Turkey Starter
Change water 24 hours after placement of birds and every 24 hours after that

Week 2

Maintain house temperature at 80 degrees farenheit
Feed 100% Honor® Show Chow® Turkey Starter
Keep fresh water available at all times
10 days of age – spread wing bands open
Weather permitting allow fresh air into the house
Stir the air with a fan if weather does not permit you to ventilate with fresh air
Avoid creating a cool draft on the birds

Week 3

Maintain house temperature at 75 degrees farenheit
Feed 75% Honor® Show Chow® Turkey Starter and 25% Honor® Show Chow® Broiler Complete
Keep fresh water available at all times
Weather permitting allow fresh air into the house
If weather does not permit fresh air ventilation, stir air with fan
Avoid creating a cool draft on the birds
Plan a day for week 4 to cull birds. Ensure the availability of additional people to help.
Look at litter condition – Add 2-3 additional bags or clean entire house out and replace with new shavings maintaining a minimal 4” base throughout the house

Week 4

Maintain house temperature at 70 degrees farenheit
Mix 50% Honor® Show Chow® Turkey Starter/Game Bird Starter with 50% Show Chow Broiler Complete
Keep fresh water available at all times
Weather permitting, allow fresh air ventilation. Stir the air with a fan. Avoid creating cool draft on the birds.
On or before 28 days of age, cull birds down to approximately 3 birds for every bird that will be entered in the show. Example: 1 pen of 3 broilers shown – Cull down to 9-12 broilers. The criteria used for culling is the same as for picking the show pen (see criteria below).

Week 5

Maintain house temperature at 68 degrees farenheit
Feed 25% Honor® Show Chow® Turkey Starter and 75% Honor® Show Chow® Broiler Complete
Keep fresh water available at all times
Weather permitting, allow fresh air ventilation. Stir the air with a fan. Avoid creating a cool draft on the birds.
Read show rules, regulations and guidelines to showing broilers.

Week 6

Maintain house temperature at 68 degrees farenheit
Feed 100% Honor® Show Chow® Broiler Complete
Keep fresh water available at all times
Weather permitting, allow fresh air ventilation. Stir the air with a fan. Avoid creating cool draft on the birds.
Evaluate litter condition – clean-out entire house if it was not done at three weeks of age. Add 3-4 additional bags of litter if the house was cleaned out at 3 weeks of age (depending on litter condition).
Begin to prepare for transport of birds to the show.
Locate card board box and purchase fresh shavings (shavings from house not recommended unless they are exceptionally clean)
Ensure availability of additional people to assist in holding birds for pen selection. If it is a morning show, select birds the night before. If it is an afternoon/evening show, select birds the morning of the show in cool weather only. During hot weather, select birds after 9:00 p.m. prior to show.

Week 7 (continue through till show date)

Maintain house temperature at 68 degrees farenheit
Feed 100% Honor® Show Chow® Broiler Complete
Keep fresh water available at all times.
Weather permitting, allow fresh air ventilation. Stir the air with a fan. Avoid creating cool draft on the birds.
Monitor litter condition – the cleaner the house litter, the cleaner the birds will be at time of show.

Pen Selection

Do not over handle the birds.
Too much feeling, squeezing, and hanging upside down creates stress on the birds and causes birds to soften and possibly die.
Remember, prior to pen selection look for defects that would result in disqualification. Remove those birds (if any) and select the top birds for a pen to show.
Mark bird on the leg with magic/paint marker. Mark the first choice pen of birds all the same.
Mark alternate birds with a different color or mark for quick identification.
Avoid tie wraps, string or leg bands for identification purposes.

Criteria for Pen Selection:

Length of breast bone – Measure from the “V” in the breast to the end point of the breast (keel) bone.  The longer the breast (keel) bone the better!
Depth of body – The measurement from the front of the breast to the backbone should be considered. Deep bodied birds will exhibit more muscle mass!
Width of the breast muscle – Using your hand, measure the width of the breast muscle.  Wide breasted birds are desired!
Tapering of the breast – measure the amount of taper (loss of muscling) as you evaluate the breast muscle toward the back of the breast (keel) bone. Minimal amount of taper is best!

As horses reach their geriatric years, it becomes important to address the changes that occur by adjusting feeding programs to fit their nutritional needs. Purina^® Equine Senior^® horse feed is formulated to deliver complete balanced nutrition, including forage, to the senior horse with problems chewing and digesting feed and forages due to age.

Purina^® Equine Senior^® horse feed provides the specific balance of energy, protein, vitamins, minerals and high-quality fiber (including beet pulp) your senior horse requires to maintain proper body condition. And the unique Easy Soak™ Pellet Technology makes it easy to chew, regardless of your horse’s chewing ability, and is more digestible than whole grains, hay or pasture. Purina^® Equine Senior^® horse feed provides the best nutrition for senior horse. Plus, your horse will love the taste.

Feed form: Complete pellet and extruded nuggets

Recommended for: Older Horses, especially those that may be losing weight due to poor nutrient absorption, dental problems or no teeth at all. This feed can replace all or some of the horse forage requirement.

Guaranteed Analysis: