Blackhead recovery

[fat brown hen]

Their "peers" are other college students.

Uhm. Is this how you feel about all scientific research?

0.5% of body weight is not very much. All of the studies that I reviewed used less than the known toxic level.

None of the studies I reviewed checked the birds for anemia which is the primary result from allium toxicity.

So, the first four references in the link I posted above measured blood profiles during their studies. Eg. In the second link, they found decreasing red blood cell count after adding 5-15g/kg of garlic to their feed.
(Anemia = low red blood cell count. It was considered beneficial for the broiler chickens in the study, because broilers suffer from high blood pressure and are prone to heart attacks)

5g of garlic is about one clove. You are right, it is not a lot. That's not gonna to kill a laying hen, but decreased red blood cell count is an undesirable side effect that should be weighed against any potential benefits.

I post this not to argue, but to clarify. I find generic statements like "Garlic is good" or "Alliums are bad" to be unhelpful. As mentioned above, the dose makes the poison.

 

[BoundlessLove]

Just reading all of this, I wonder how many of these experts in these studies actually raise/keep turkeys themselves as agricultural animals.
IMO, I would trust someone who has kept turkeys for many years versus an expert who, more than likely, has, ”one study and done” experience.

 

[fat brown hen]

IMO, I would trust someone who has kept turkeys for many years versus an expert who, more than likely, has, ”one study and done” experience.

That's fine, people can choose whom they would like to trust.

Personally, I like to see measured quantities because my chickens and turkeys eat all sorts of stuff that would probably kill them in large enough doses.

 

[R2elk]

Personally, I like to see measured quantities because my chickens and turkeys eat all sorts of stuff that would probably kill them in large enough doses.

Birds of all sorts are not likely to eat anything harmful to them unless they are in an enclosed situation and it is forced on them.

Their instincts are better than ours when it comes to something noxious.

I have had both wild and domestic turkeys walk down a row of onions and either snip the tops off or pull the onions and not eat any of them.