SHOULD I GIVE MY CHICKENS GARLIC?
Should I give my chickens garlic?
Garlic has many health benefits and is an easy and inexpensive way to keep your pet healthy and happy.
If you’ve been researching how to supplement your chicken feed for health benefits, you’ve heard the advice to include garlic in their diet. Garlic has many health benefits for humans and animals or is an easy and inexpensive way to keep your pet healthy and happy.
Like apple cider vinegar, garlic is thought to improve chicken health. Although exactly how garlic works is still a mystery, because of its popularity as a supplement, it has been studied, considered safe for pets, and endorsed by Storey’s Chicken Health Handbook .
Read also:SILKIE CHICKEN: FACTS, RAISING AND CARE – A COMPLETE GUIDE.
How does garlic benefit chickens?
1. Supports the immune system:
Compounds within have been shown to trigger the response of certain types of white blood cells in the body when they encounter viruses.
2. Reduces odors in chicken manure:
In a study conducted by Clemson University, garlic, given to chickens, effectively masked the smell of chickens waste, without changing the taste of eggs. Protects against viruses. Garlic has been shown to be effective against viruses including salmonellosis, colibacillosis and cholera.
3. Kills bad bacteria:
Garlic is believed to be an anti-inflammatory agent that can inhibit the growth of pathogens and provide protection against infections.
4. Helps egg production:
It is known to help create very healthy eggs with low “bad” cholesterol levels.
6. Helps underweight or malnourished chickens:
Garlic, like apple cider vinegar, is said to stimulate the appetite and improve appetite.
7. Deters parasites:
Allicin in garlic is thought to make chicken blood taste unpleasant, which mites eat. If you prefer a natural mites repellent, garlic is worth a try.
How to add garlic to chicken diet
There are many different ways to add garlic to your chicken diet. If you are introducing garlic for the first time, you may need to experiment a bit to find what works best for you and your chicken.
It is best to start feeding your chickens garlic when they are young, so they can get used to the taste of garlic. Once it has been prepared from a young age to accept the flavor of garlic, the chicken should have no difficulty in drinking the juice of freshly crushed garlic, or even eating a small bulb. Older birds that have never eaten garlic can often eat garlic powder mixed into their diet.
Read also:HOW DOES A ROOSTER FERTILIZE AN EGG
Garlic powder in chicken feed
Garlic dust is the easiest way to introduce garlic into your flock’s diet, and the easiest for birds that haven’t eaten garlic before.
It is often thought that garlic powder is weak and offers fewer health benefits than fresh garlic, but studies, such as those published in the International Journal of Poultry Science, have shown that adding no more than 1% garlic powder and chicken feed increased by two. the speed of laying hens and the quality, including weight, of their eggs. Mixing about 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder per 1 cup of food is my favorite way to introduce garlic into my chicken feed. They never raise their beaks to this extent and nothing is wasted.
Freshly crushed garlic in drinking water
Crushing garlic releases allicin, an amino acid found in garlic that is believed to provide the health benefits mentioned above. An inexpensive garlic press will crush the garlic easily.
Adding crushed garlic to drinking water at the rate of 1 clove per four gallons of water will give garlic the recommended health benefits and odor reduction from chicken waste.
Garlic water quickly becomes unpleasant on hot summer days, so make sure you change it every day. Whenever you add something to your flock waterer, it’s important to add a spring water and clear water. There is always one picky hen who will decide she doesn’t like it. If your flock is in doubt about drinking garlic water, add a little garlic and gradually increase.
Like apple cider vinegar, you shouldn’t put garlic in a galvanized steel pot. Garlic will eat away at galvanized steel, releasing toxic levels of zinc.
Free Choice
Fresh Crushed Garlic
Although I have never been lucky enough to get my birds to eat fresh garlic, you can give them fresh crushed cloves in a small bowl of their choice. Garlic begins to lose its potency after 24 hours, so a freshly crushed glove should be given daily if this is your preferred method of supplementation. Always feed raw garlic to your flock, as cooking reduces the amount of allicin.
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