Feeding Chickens Garlic to reduce odors

[leasmom]

I just saw this article. Has anyone heard of this or tried this???

http://lubbockonline.com/stories/102498/LF0032.shtml

 

[wegotchickens]

Reckon they're using garlic powder? They don't specify. I understand that some folks have fed garlic an onions to their hens and were NOT happy with the taste of the eggs...

 

[leasmom]

Hey, we used to live in Johnson City...

Yeah, it says garlic powder. I am trying to find an inexpensive way to reduce odors in my suburban lot without spending an arm and a leg and I had never heard of this.

 

[blueskylen]

don't know about the garlic - it might also keep the chickens from getting worms too.

i had an odor problem in the run, and got a busted bag of stall dry from TSC for less than half price about a month ago, and spread it thru the run, the odor was gone and hasn't come back. i also us the DE in the coop to dry the poo, and it really keeps the smell down.

 

[wegotchickens]

We covered our run in sand and it really made a difference on drying our the poo, which kept it from smelling as much. Also makes it easier to rake out once a week.

We also use some DE in the run and nest boxes.

 

[chickenchalupa]

I don't think that giving them garlic powder is a good ideah unless you want garlic flavored eggs.

 

[wegotchickens]

I don't think 3% in their feed will taint the eggs.
Especially if it's the powder form. Each form of garlic has different properties and potency. The powder is the least potent.

 

[digitS']

I've tried it and ran out of the garlic powder about a week ago, the temperatures have dropped, and a new layer of pine shavings have been spread in the coop.

Everything is fine and I think the trial was a good one. As for what it does to the taste of eggs, perhaps the Clemson researchers did their homework and their results should be trusted.

But, here's the BYC discussion surfacing again:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=77235

Steve

 

[RASTACHICKI]

what is DE?

 

[leasmom]

So others have tried it. Thanks for posting that link on byc. I can afford garlic better than I could D.E. or Stall PZ or anything like that. D.E. is a natural product that isn't harmful to animals or humans to control odors.