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.
Garlic is also wonderful for both chickens and humans. And before you ask, no, feeding your chickens garlic won't make their eggs taste like garlic. I promise. And even if it did, garlic has so many great health benefits for your flock.
For a healthy flock, they should receive one dosage of fresh garlic a week. For sick chickens, they can receive one dosage a day for up to 10 days. The most direct way for a chicken to receive the benefits from garlic is by them eating it raw, crushed, and free-choice.
Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until melted and hot. Add the chicken to the skillet and sear on the first side for about 3-4 minutes, until golden brown. Flip the chicken over and brush on the garlic marinade. Drizzle the extra around the chicken in the pan.
Garlic, onions, and other strong tasting foods – These won't harm your chickens, but they may impart an undesirable taste to the eggs that your hens lay. Avocado skins and pits – These contain persin, a fungicidal toxin that can be fatal to chickens.
Raw garlic may be used to boost the immune system of a droopy mature chicken by serving as an appetite stimulant. Add crushed garlic to the drinking water at the rate of four cloves per gallon, providing fresh garlic water daily.
Hens should never be fed food scraps that contain anything high in fat or salt, and do not feed them food that is rancid or spoiled. Specific types of food that hens should not be fed include raw potato, avocado, chocolate, onion, garlic, citrus fruits, uncooked rice or uncooked beans [2].
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. Studies have also been done indicating that the probiotics found in fermented substances can help support gut health in humans.
“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.
Worm Control
In addition to these valuable wellness benefits, apple cider vinegar for chickens is often used in an effort to prevent worms. Some worms can attack a chicken and cause it to become vulnerable rapidly. Apple Cider Vinegar's low pH destroys germs and worms.
Garlic is another natural food that is known to help keep worms at bay, and makes your chicken's internals a less attractive place for parasites to settle. Adding some ground up garlic into your chicken's feed is a great way to get your chickens to eat it.
Garlic, especially in conjunction with mint is a wonderful year-round natural wormer. I also crush fresh garlic cloves into their water on a regular basis. It's believed that parasites (both internal and external) don't like the taste of blood of hosts that ingest a lot of garlic.
Select fruits, vegetables and grains will keep chickens happy and ensure they are receiving a nutritionally balanced diet. Good choices include leafy greens, cooked beans, corn, non-sugary cereals and grains, berries, apples and most other fruits and vegetables.
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.
If you catch the worm problem quick enough, a simple garlic treatment usually sorts it. Crush a couple of garlic cloves per bird and put in a stocking – this stops it blocking up the water nipple. Hang this in the water bucket and add a generous splosh of apple cider vinegar (live stuff with the mother).
If onions are not harmful to adult chickens if taken in moderation, their chicks can also have a bit of it. However, chicks should have smaller amounts because they are smaller than adults. Too much consumption can negatively affect their digestive system, so avoiding feeding them onions is better.
While spraying down the top of your coop or run can help cools things off, you shouldn't spray your chickens directly or dunk their whole bodies in water. Just the feet is sufficient! Chickens also cool down by taking dust baths.
So, if we had to pick one natural product to give hens on a regular basis, it would be Apple Cider Vinegar. Apple Cider Vinegar is made using the whole apple and provides enzymes and important minerals and vitamins in the form of Bioflavonoids, and is widely recognised as a great all-round tonic for hens.
This is probably the easiest way to make sure your flock get their dose of raw garlic. Simply crush 1 clove per litre (4 per gallon) into their drinking water or, if you're using it, add to their electrolyte drink. For healthy chickens, refresh the water after 48 hours, leaving out the garlic. Do this twice each week.
The most basic option for cleaning your chook coop is a mixture of vinegar and water-either ACV or white vinegar will work. Simply mix about 15ml of vinegar with water in a spray bottle. Spray on and wipe off with a damp rag or sponge and voila… clean, fresh smelling coop!
Garlic and onions are the two most common culprits that may impact egg flavor. A few other foods should be avoided because they contain toxins that can make birds ill or even be fatal. Avocado pits and skins are toxic to chickens as they contain a toxin called persin.
Leafy vegetation can also pose a danger. Tomatoes, peppers and potatoes are members of the nightshade family, so their leaves are toxic to many animals. Raw, green potatoes can carry this toxin in their skins, so while the flesh is safe, chickens shouldn't be fed peelings.