Are you looking for natural, inexpensive ways to keep your chickens healthy? Here is a list of some common foods that you can add to your flock’s diet for their overall health and wellness. Below I will go over each one and their benefits, and the best way to include them into your chicken’s diet.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Garlic
- Oregano
- Cinnamon
- Turmeric
- Lime
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if a purchase is made through a link
Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV is my top go-to as immune support for chickens.
It not only boosts their immune systems, but aids the digestive system and contains vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
It also helps increase calcium absorption.
Add 1 tablespoon of ACV to 1 gallon of water, once a week. You can offer it as an additional water source, or just add it to their existing waterer.
I also give ACV to new chicks, for the first couple days. In smaller amounts. If you’re interested in how I raise healthy chicks, you can read my blog post on that here: Raising Chicks – 6 Tips for the Beginner
Garlic
Ah garlic, not only is it delicious, its superpowers are amazing. And it will do wonders for your flock.
Not only does it support the immune system, it’s also antibacterial, a natural wormer, helps prevent mites and parasites, AND will reduce the odor in your chicken coop.
It can be given fresh from the garden, crushed, free choice. Or you can sprinkle a little garlic powder on their feed a few times a week.
Oregano
Oregano is a natural antibiotic for chickens. It’s thought to help guard against some of the common illnesses, such as avian flu and infectious bronchitis.
You can give it to them fresh, straight from the garden. Or, if you have dried oregano, simply steep 2 tablespoons in 1 cup hot water, for about 10 minutes. After it’s cool, give directly to the chickens to drink.
You can also sprinkle a tablespoon of dried oregano over their feed a few times a week, for yearly immune support.
Cinnamon
A tasty little spice that packs a punch, cinnamon is a wonderful addition to your chicken’s diet.
It reduces inflammation, helps treat infection, is antibacterial, treats nasal congestion and coughing, and improves blood flow (which will also help prevent frostbite).
Just add a little ground cinnamon to your daily feed for all these amazing benefits.
Turmeric
Another great, multi-purpose spice is turmeric.
It is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, an anti-oxidant, speeds healing, and also helps maintain healthy skin, eyes and brain functions.
Sprinkle a few teaspoons onto your chicken feed once or twice a week.
Lime
Using a garden lime for your chickens has a lot of benefits.
Around your coop it works as an insect repellent, and reduces dangerous bacteria. I like to sprinkle a thin layer of lime before adding more bedding to my coops.
When you provide lime as a dust bath, it will help prevent ticks, lice, mites and fleas. I like to offer my chickens a dust bath consisting of lime, wood ash and sand.
As an added benefit, chickens are likely to consume small amounts of the lime, which provides calcium.
I like to use this safe brand of lime for my chickens: First Saturday Lime
There are so many natural ways to help your flock stay healthy and happy!
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
