Cayenne pepper

[Kimbo 90]

I’ve been reading about adding cayenne pepper, garlic powder and certain herbs to my flocks feed. For health reasons and to deter rats from their feeder. I’ve seen mixed responses and just wondered if anyone on here had tried it? Will it harm them? Tia.

 

[Island Coppers]

I was looking at this too. One item that stood out was a scientific study that showed the rats given grain laced with hot pepper soon preferred the grain with pepper over the plain grain.

 

[GoosesGeeses]

As far as i know, Cayenne and Garlic powder are good for your flock, they boost their immune system, deter pests like lice, mites, mice, and rats. But only a give them a little bit. Giving them too much can make them sick, so about a teaspoon for every 5 pounds of feed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Will it harm them? Like practically everything else, not if fed in small quantities. Like practically everything else, it can be a problem if you feed too much. How much is too much? I don't know. I don't purposely feed Cayenne or garlic for health benefits but they get some from kitchen wastes and small quantities from garden wastes. I occasionally feed them defective sweet peppers as part of garden wastes. The red ones can help darken the yolks from the pigment.

Will these help them? You get different opinions. Will these repel pests? You get different opinions. Some people strongly believe yes. Some people really don't think so. Some people think they can taste garlic in the eggs.

If you want to, go for it in moderation. If you don't want to, the absence won't seriously threaten them. Many never get the Cayenne or garlic and do well.

 

[TwoCrows]

Cayenne pepper can burn tissues in the crop, esophagus and intestinal tract if over used. I'd be very careful using it on a regular basis. As for keeping rats out of the feed, I'd pick up all feeders and waterers at bedtime and clean up any spilled feed at the end of the day.

 

[Al Gerhart]

I have no idea about the heath benefits of using seasonings in chicken feed but the hot pepper for rodent control doesn't work, just an old wives tale spread by well meaning people that have heard of it and consider it plausible.

There is one sure way to keep rodents out of feed; buy a rat proof chicken feeder. That is a treadle feeder with a spring loaded door to prevent the rats from just pushing the lid in or up, it has a narrow and distant treadle, and must be all steel, no plastic. No overhead lids.

You must have mostly adult birds, full size birds, because the only way a treadle feeder is rat proof is if there is a big difference between the weight and reach of a chicken compared to the rat. Tiny silkies and bantams might not weigh enough to use a treadle feeder by themselves but will learn to eat when another hen is eating. No chicks or poults either, too dangerous for them. You must also be willing to follow the instructions to the very letter and ask for help if you are having problems getting the chickens to use the feeder.

Picking up feeders before dark helps but it also teaches the rats to eat during the day.

 

[K0k0shka]

So much of this is just woo and old wives' tales. If you feed a complete formula poultry feed, then it has everything that your chickens need - you don't need to add extras for them to be healthy.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I've done the math.

To get to rates of garlic inclusion that would be reasonably expected to have even mild anti-bacterial properties is not cost effective in the least and would displace enough of the "regular" feed as to have measurable (if likely not visually obvious) effect on its overall nutritional value. Uncertainty regarding the impact of heat treatment and storage makes specific dosing of off the shelf powders "uncertain" and control over garlic (and other alliums) more dangerous compounds equally uncertain.

Red pepper flake is much the same, Cayenne only slightly better. It is counting on the capsaicin content of those products to act as a deterrent - and for most things, it simply doesn't. For almost everything else, when hungry enough, they will eat it and develop a tolerance.

Recommended inclusion rates routinely repeated by the well meaning public have mild effect as food coloring of the egg yolk (which some mistake to suggest improved nutritional value - generally not true). In short, the "science" behind these things is the same science supporting certain magical practices and the belief system supporting homeopathy.

The Dosage is the Poison. If its not high enough, there will be no effect except to help create creatures able to tolerate ever higher dosages.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Shorter answer, your seasonings should go ON your chicken, not in them (unless you are liberally seasoning the inner cavity before baking, or preparing a brine, of course).

 

[K0k0shka]

In short, the "science" behind these things is the same science supporting certain magical practices and the belief system supporting homeopathy.

And just to clarify in case it's not clear enough - there is no actual science supporting magical practices or homeopathy.