Have you wondered! If you can treat your chickens naturally? Yes, There are plenty different kinds of medicinal herbs which can be used as natural feed additives for poultry. Commonly known herbs that have received particular attention from researchers are Neem, Turmeric, Onion, Garlic, Aloe Vera, Apple Cider Vinegar, Oregano, Thyme, Marigolds, Dandelions, Fenugreek, Ashwagandha, Moringa oleifera, Cinnamon, Tulsi, Sage, etc.
However, please note that this is a guide only – it is not an alternative to veterinary advice. If you suspect that your chicken may be unwell, a vet should be your first person of call.
Herbal preparations help in the digestion process and being a component of nature. These preparations are considered safe, cost effective and environment friendly with no side effect. Hence, their inclusion in the diet should be encouraged to enhance the bird’s performance, improve feed utilization, maintain health and alleviate adverse effect of environmental stress.
Checking your Chicken is Healthy
Check on the birds daily, when letting them out in the morning and then again in the afternoon. This gives you some guidelines of what to look for to ensure your hens are healthy.
Positive Health Signs
- Look clean, eating and drinking.
- Interacting with rest of flock well.
Negative Health Signs
- Dirty/ragged appearance.
- Inactive/Hunched/Huddled.
- Getting bullied by other chickens.
- Closed eyes /Discharge from nasal area.
If your chicken is poorly it is important to seek advice, either from a vet or an expert.
Herbal Medicine for Chickens
When you need to treat all your chickens naturally because of a health challenge you can infuse herbs directly into their water. Either add the herbs directly to the water or make a strong tea using medicinal herbs. Then, fill the water with the herbal tea, diluting it with additional water to the fill line.
Herb Supplements in Food
Add dried herbs to your poultry food at a rate of no more than 10 to 15% of the feed or serve fresh herbs in bundles hanging in the chicken run. Using herbs for chickens as a nutritive boost and preventative helps to strengthen your hens during seasonal molts, hot weather stress, and wet weather.
Why not grow some herbs for your chickens? Oregano, thyme, lavender and mint are especially beneficial as well as fragrant. Toss the fresh leaves into your coop and nesting box and let your chickens decide. They’ll eat some of the herbs, lay their eggs on some and ignore some, letting those dry and scent the coop. It’s a win-win for you and for your chickens.
Aloe Vera as Poultry Life Saver
Aloevera is a well-known medicinal herb. It has been used for commercial and therapeutic properties in many parts of the world. Aloe Vera gel contains compounds with proven antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, and wound healing properties. Aloevera gel contains acemannan, which has been identified as the primary polysaccharide. Polysaccharides can affect the humoral immune response and cellular immunity.
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Aloe Vera gel has demonstrated antimicrobial properties against a wide range of pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Aloe Vera, as an additive to broiler chicken feed, has great potentials for improving growth performance, carcass characteristics, haemato-biochemical parameters, intestinal health, immune system response and cost of production. It can also be used in controlling coccidiosis. Regularly, supplement broiler drinking water with 1% Aloe Vera gel as an alternative for commercial antibiotic growth promoters.
Oregano as a Natural Poultry Antibiotic
Oregano is one of the most powerful natural antibiotics ever studied and has been found to be superior to many of the currently used antibiotics. The oil is more potent than the fresh or dried herb; but in any form, it’s hard to deny the power of oregano.
Apple Cider Vinegar as Mild Antibiotic
Apple cider vinegar can act like a mild antibiotic. Antibiotics kill infectious bacteria that can cause disease in chickens. Apple cider vinegar can help reduce internal worms in chickens. It helps to make the chickens gut not a nice place for worms to live. Apple Cider Vinegar makes the chickens gut a less hospital place for worms to live. It won’t completely eradicate them, so regular worming is still very important.
To treat chickens naturally, dilute the apple cider vinegar at a rate of 5ml or a tea spoon per liter of water. Then, give it to the chickens for 3 to 5 days each month. Never use the vinegar in a metal drinker as the acid reacts with the metal. It should only be used in a plastic drinker.
Honey as Natural Antiseptic
A natural antiseptic with natural healing properties, honey is obviously also non-toxic if inadvertently eaten. If you choose to travel the chickens from one place to another. You can feed & treat chickens naturally, by adding some honey with the water to rehydrate them quickly.
Thyme as Natural Antiparasitic
Thyme is a natural antiparasitic, antibacterial, aids the respiratory system, relieves infection, and is packed full of omega-3s that support brain and heart health. It is also rich in vitamins A, C, and B6, as well as fiber, iron, riboflavin, manganese, and calcium. Offer daily in their feed, dried or fresh, or freely on pasture or around the chicken run.
Safest Natural Poultry Treatment
You’ll need to be aggressive with this one. Oregano (antibiotic) in their feed and water at all times during treatment until symptoms have completely passed for all chickens. Add turmeric (immune support and anti-inflammatory) and garlic (antibacterial) to their feed as well. Separate any infected birds as much as possible, but treat ALL birds the same.
Try adding these ingredients to your flock’s feed or water on a daily basis as natural treatments for chicken diseases and their prevention:
- Raw Apple Cider Vinegar – A strong tonic that eliminates internal parasites and promotes health.
- Cinnamon – Helps stop diarrhea.
- Chopped Garlic and Onion – Fed in small amounts on a daily basis; they will help prevent parasites and boost the immune system.
- Aloe Vera – General health food.
- Oregano – Treats parasites and prevents a second infestation.
- Sour Milk or Buttermilk – Supports a healthy gut. Feed a mash of wheat bran soaked in sour milk to a sick chicken to speed recovery.
- Parsley – Chickens love this disease preventing herb which is rich in nutrients like vitamins A, B, C, E and K, calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium and zinc.
The Key to Avoiding Importing Disease into Your Flock
- Keep a clean coop to minimize bacteria build-up.
- Buy from a reliable person whose birds exhibit good practices of hygiene and health.
- Keep age groups separated for as long as practicable, so young birds are kept away from adults while they gain some immunity.
- Do not introduce birds from a different source to your flock without them spending at least two weeks in isolation first.
- Make sure feeding and drinking equipment is kept clean and free from mould and algae.
Word of Caution
All appropriate medications must be used to restore an animal to health when methods acceptable to organic production or natural fail.
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