before you give wormer, please read

[EddieSalita]

Thought this might be of interest here. My birds readily graze this plant. It's known to be somewhat toxic when uncooked. Initially it had me alarmed. But they seem very fine with doing it. They just eat a bit each day, they could eat a lot more if they wanted.

While this is goats, not chickens. It stands to reason effects effects may be similar. While it didn't necessarily improve growth or final weight outcomes, it did reduce parasite load found in faeces.

Maybe part of the answer os not to eliminate but limit.


https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17568377/

 

[RoyalChick]

Thought this might be of interest here. My birds readily graze this plant. It's known to be somewhat toxic when uncooked. Initially it had me alarmed. But they seem very fine with doing it. They just eat a bit each day, they could eat a lot more if they wanted.

While this is goats, not chickens. It stands to reason effects effects may be similar. While it didn't necessarily improve growth or final weight outcomes, it did reduce parasite load found in faeces.

Maybe part of the answer os not to eliminate but limit.


https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17568377/

Interesting. Mine eat a lot of artemesia growing as a weed here. Turns out it has anticoccidial properties as well as several other health benefits.

https://ijvar.org/index.php/ijvar/article/view/550

 

[Perris]

You both make an important point about birds self-medicating with specific plants as and when they need to. It raises another point, to wit, that we should not be quick to judge whether they do or don't like/eat a given plant. Because they only consume medicinal plants when they need to, and usually then in small quantity (the difference between poison and medicine being a matter of the dose in some such cases), they may not need it or eat it when we happen to see them near it; it doesn't mean they don't ever eat it.

 

[EddieSalita]

You both make an important point about birds self-medicating with specific plants as and when they need to. It raises another point, to wit, that we should not be quick to judge whether they do or don't like/eat a given plant. Because they only consume medicinal plants when they need to, and usually then in small quantity (the difference between poison and medicine being a matter of the dose in some such cases), they may not need it or eat it when we happen to see them near it; it doesn't mean they don't ever eat it.

What we do understand about nature is but a grain of sand on all the beaches. Just when I think I'm getting an handle on something she inevitably reminds me I am but a babe.

 

[RoyalChick]

You both make an important point about birds self-medicating with specific plants as and when they need to. It raises another point, to wit, that we should not be quick to judge whether they do or don't like/eat a given plant. Because they only consume medicinal plants when they need to, and usually then in small quantity (the difference between poison and medicine being a matter of the dose in some such cases), they may not need it or eat it when we happen to see them near it; it doesn't mean they don't ever eat it.

Yes. And one thing I noticed in looking for papers on artemisia is that some studies gave it in high volumes - 1-5% of total diet. They were studying it as a feed additive for broilers.
This was reassuring to me as I had worried how much mine were eating. When it first comes up they will graze on the new leaves for an entire morning.

 

[Perris]

Interesting. Mine eat a lot of artemesia growing as a weed here. Turns out it has anticoccidial properties as well as several other health benefits.

https://ijvar.org/index.php/ijvar/article/view/550

that's an interesting paper. I was particularly struck by its usefulness against cocci as well as worms. And I did not hitherto know how important is the role specifically of chicken keepers in the development of antibiotic resistance: "The main cause of antibiotic resistance in people and animals is "selective pressure" caused by antibiotic use in the poultry industry". That could not be more pertinent to this thread.

The focus of the paper is one of the 500 odd varieties of wormwood, the sweet variety. But the active ingredient is artemisinin, which is the common property of the whole genus, and the paper makes clear that the plant is effective in its natural state; it does not have to be subjected to fancy and secret extraction treatments, patents, profit margins, marketing budgets and executive salaries to obtain something that works.

The last surprise in the paper for me was to learn that the leaves are about 18% protein!

There are at least 3 varieties growing here. A useful overview of the medicinal properties of the common wormwood for those who want to read further on it is https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Artemisia+vulgaris

 

[RoyalChick]

that's an interesting paper. I was particularly struck by its usefulness against cocci as well as worms. And I did not hitherto know how important is the role specifically of chicken keepers in the development of antibiotic resistance: "The main cause of antibiotic resistance in people and animals is "selective pressure" caused by antibiotic use in the poultry industry". That could not be more pertinent to this thread.

The focus of the paper is one of the 500 odd varieties of wormwood, the sweet variety. But the active ingredient is artemisinin, which is the common property of the whole genus, and the paper makes clear that the plant is effective in its natural state; it does not have to be subjected to fancy and secret extraction treatments, patents, profit margins, marketing budgets and executive salaries to obtain something that works.

The last surprise in the paper for me was to learn that the leaves are about 18% protein!

There are at least 3 varieties growing here. A useful overview of the medicinal properties of the common wormwood for those who want to read further on it is https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Artemisia+vulgaris

I have read a lot of papers on artemesia since it appeared here. The medicinal properties of artemisinin are sufficiently compelling I have started eating it myself. It is peppery - good in salads and cooked.
The one that has settled here is A. vulgaris.

 

[EddieSalita]

I find it interesting to see what my chickens are eating at certain times, then research those plants. They live in a not huge but very diverse food forest where various weeds arise.

A particularly invasive and problematic weed in this part of the world is a plant called cobblers pegs (Bidens pilosa). It's that horrible thing with the sticky little elongated seeds that is a nightmare for long haired dog and livestock owners should they wander into it. The seeds can eventually burrow into the skin and cause lesions.

My chickens however absolutely love the stuff. They eat every part and then dig for the roots. Quickly eradicating it from their area.

It has a long traditional medicinal history. Recently studied more seriously for its various effects. Which in include it being effective on oxacillin resistant staphylococcus and malaria amongst other things.

Not sure if my chickens are shamans, biochemists, ethnobotanists or pharmacists.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4131820/#:~:text=Extensive researches over the past,antibacterial23,28,48.


https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jpr/2020/8832724/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fft2.63

It's extremely invasive. Be careful planting it deliberately.

 

[Perris]

Not sure if my chickens are shamans, biochemists, ethnobotanists or pharmacists.

very funny Thanks for the informative post!

 

[roxanne]

When you are worried for the health of your chickens, it's natural to want to give them something that you hope will make them better. But the consequences may not be what you wanted and hoped for. This article casts parasites in a new and more interesting light.
https://grist.org/video/parasite-climate-change-ecosystem-health-science/

Parasites, I agree, are part of the earths lifecycle but climate change is a total joke! The earths temperature is cyclical and a normal, natural pattern. I don’t believe it.