Cinnamon contains very active compounds, including essential oils (EOs) and phenolics, which possess potent anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities that act as defensive agents against oxidative damage in the chicken intestinal tract.
Even though cinnamon is safe for your flocks, it must be served in moderation because too much can be harmful. Enough serving of every meal is one teaspoon for every two pounds of chicken weight. It should be given in moderation two times per week.
Thyme. Thyme is known for its antimicrobial, antiseptic, mucolytic, and expectorant characteristics. Which makes it an excellent natural antibiotic to eliminate or prevent gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in poultry.
Several herbs purported to encourage laying and support the reproductive system include fennel, garlic, marigold, marjoram, nasturtium, parsley, red clover, and red raspberry leaves, so I like to mix them dried into my flock's daily layer feed.
Fresh garlic is great as a natural antifungal. You can feed it directly in crushed up bits in their feed or use a liquid form in their water. Raw, unfiltered from the mother apple cider vinegar added to their water can also help prevent infections.
ACV for chickens offers immune support by attacking bad bacteria in the digestive tract, and contains the added benefits of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. It is an ideal addition to your poultry supplement program.
The immune system is integral to protecting your birds' bodies from illness. A little bit of vinegar in their water can help reinforce that crucial strength. Digestion: ACV is often used to regulate pH levels in the body, which is excellent for bird digestion.
A high-quality complete layer feed is the absolute best way that you can help your chickens lay more eggs. A great chicken feed is essential to keeping your birds in peak physical condition so that they can produce beautiful, wholesome eggs for you and your family.
As a natural feed additive, ginger may have great benefit and value in poultry nutrition—especially for broilers—due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiparasitic, and immunomodulatory properties [23].
Hydrogen Peroxide – Many people have this readily available in their home first aid kit. It is a mild antiseptic used on the skin to prevent infection. You can use this on chickens for minor cuts, scrapes, & burns.
Adding ACV to your chickens diet is an easy way to supply probiotics, vitamins, minerals and trace elements to your flock. I highly recommend anyone add it to their backyard chicken care arsenal.
Turmeric prevents and reduces stress and negative effects of inflammation and stimulates growth performance of broiler chickens.
Cinnamon Queen hens start laying at only 16 to 18 weeks old and can lay up to 300 eggs per year. Their egg production will stop or profoundly decrease after three to four years.
For optimally strong shells and fresh eggs, choose a feed that also includes an oyster shell mix, like the Oyster Strong® System. This system is included in Purina® layer feeds to provide a consistent supply of calcium through the entire 20-hour shell building process to help hens lay strong and stay strong.
As with deer, however, there are plenty of herbs that can be incorporated into the landscape that chickens will avoid. These include: borage, calendula (pot marigold), catnip, chives, feverfew, lavender, marjoram, Mexican sage, peppermint and spearmint, rosemary, sage, salvias, St. John's wort, tansy and yarrow.
Common Chicken Ailments & How to Treat with Herbs
Respiratory problems can be treated with basil, bee balm, cinnamon, clover, dill, echinacea, rosemary, thyme or yarrow added to their diet. Sage is thought to fend off salmonella and oregano has been studied as a natural antibiotic along with thyme.
Chickens are busy sleeping at night, and they will not wake up to lay an egg, but gather the strength and energy they need to lay the egg first thing in the morning. With an average production cycle of 26 hours, you can see that your hen will not lay at the exact same time from one day to the next.
Foods That Naturally Impact Egg Yolk Color
Chickens whose diets are rich in leafy greens, flowers, seeds, weeds, and meat lay eggs with naturally darker yolks. The xanthophylls, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals in these food sources are then passed on to their eggs and concentrated in their yolks.
The best dosage is typically about one milliliter of vinegar per day for a single chicken. Mixing it into their water will dilute the acidic taste while making sure that the chicken receives a safe and effective amount.
Small amounts of crushed raw garlic fed to baby chicks twice a week not only help their immune systems develop but also get them used to the flavor so they will be more likely to accept it later in life. Raw garlic may be used to boost the immune system of a droopy mature chicken by serving as an appetite stimulant.
“Adding probiotics to the water can help build beneficial bacteria in the digestive system. The more good bacteria in the digestive system, the less room for harmful bacteria.” Probiotic supplements can be added to chickens' water for three days each month.