Anyone Adding Dried Herbs & Spices to Chicken's Feed?

[thailand]

I'm wanting to supplement my chicken's feed with some natural antibiotics, healthy herbs and spices. Is anyone else doing this? Would love some advice please on amounts per kilo of food. The herbs and spices I'm particularly looking at, at the moment, are dried oregano (can't afford the oil) and cinnamon.

Looking forward to connecting with others going down this road....

 

[JesNflock]

I'm wanting to supplement my chicken's feed with some natural antibiotics, healthy herbs and spices. Is anyone else doing this? Would love some advice please on amounts per kilo of food. The herbs and spices I'm particularly looking at, at the moment, are dried oregano (can't afford the oil) and cinnamon.

Looking forward to connecting with others going down this road....

Hi I don't know anything about adding herbs but would like to follow this thread to see what tips people have. I know many people have added different herbs to bedding but I don't know about food.

 

[rexannastar]

i just found this article and started adding herbs to the girls' warm oatmeal treat. they seem to love it!

http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2013/05/adding-dried-herbs-to-your-chicken.html

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Chickens love oat meal, regardless if it is cooked, cold, instant, old fashion, or steel cut oat meal. Since chickens and all birds for that matter will eat the hottest red peppers on Earth without the first sign of tasting them I somehow doubt that any spices will make much of an impression on a chickens' palate or taste buds, if in fact chickens have taste buds. And adding some of these things without researching them could be hazardous to a chicken's health. Besides they grow some scorching red hot peppers in the thread starter's home land, Thailand. The term "bird peppers" in seed catalogs refers to the only animal that will willingly eat these peppers up straight and neat.

 

[Allysha1990]

I found this site http://frugallysustainable.com/2013...herbal-feed-supplement-for-backyard-chickens/
I was thinking of doing the same for my flock I was also going to sprinkle some essential oils on their straw, just enough to give off a scent

 

[thailand]

Hey, great to have you guys joining me in figuring out herbs and spices for our chickens

I've just found this thread on BYC that looks interesting....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/372896/by-request-the-ethno-botanical-thread

I'm looking into nettles for the girls. I've heard they can encourage your hens to lay way more eggs. What I'm trying to figure out now is the botanical name for stinging nettles, and if I can find the right type here in Thailand.

Happy reading everyone!

 

[PineShavings]

Never heard of anyone doing this, is it to flavor their meat or something? Lol. I think my chickens get enough from the wild herbs around my property.

 

[Allysha1990]

Never heard of anyone doing this, is it to flavor their meat or something? Lol. I think my chickens get enough from the wild herbs around my property.

Different herbs have different effects on the chickens: Antibacterial, Sedative effect, Increase egg laying, etc.

 

[rexannastar]

thanks for the links and advice everyone. Thailand, i'm interested in nettles too. if it's common/stinging nettle, I believe its Urtica dioica.
for now, i'm playing around with herbs i've already got - marjoram (laying stimulant), oregano (respiratory health), and sage (immune booster). i'm new to chickens and I don't know anything, but it seems if i offer herbs and they don't mind eating them, it can't hurt them and in this frigid weather, it just might make their little bodies stronger. however, I also can't help but feel like i'm seasoning chicken parmesan from the inside out...

 

[Allysha1990]

however, I also can't help but feel like i'm seasoning chicken parmesan from the inside out...