Garlic for chickens?

[DiamondSwan]

Some of my personal experience:

I have used powdered garlic (NOT garlic salt

) in the feed of my backyard flock for the past 3 years. It is mixed in with their Flock Raiser at the rate of about 1/4 teaspoon per 1 cup of feed.

Nothing about their eggs suggest that they are eating garlic that I can taste - no off flavor. The hens smell a little of garlic if you pick them up but that's okay. We would probably all smell of garlic if we sprinkled 1/4 teaspoon of powdered garlic on every cup of our food

. Their coop also smells a little of garlic.

There used to be more on that Clemson University study on the internet. The only thing I find nowadays is that ScienceDaily article I cited above. Anyway, it convinced me to give garlic a try. However, at 1/4 teaspoon per cup of feed, they are getting NOWHERE NEAR as much garlic powder as Clemson fed their hens! The researchers were not studying the health effects of feeding garlic but I feel very comfortable with adding garlic

at the rate I am using it.

Steve

I'm definitely going to try this. I was told to put it in my chickens' feed to help keep mites away because they don't like garlic blood. Of course I won't rely on garlic powder completely to treat the mites -- I'll be using a treatment as well.

 

[janeswapit]

The Canadian government list of toxic plants is about the best I know. When a plant has shown itself to be toxic to humans or livestock, specific incidents are cited. This is all they say about garlic: "Human allergy to garlic dust has been documented by Lybarger et al. 1982. Ingesting garlic leaves can also cause allergic reactions." There is no mention of garlic poisoning livestock. Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System

Garlic isn't on the Purdue University, School of Veterinary Medicine poisonous plants list.

Nor, on the Texas A & M toxic plant list.

And, "wild garlic" is listed as "Only toxic in large quantities" on the Penn State Weed Management in Pasture Systems list. That "toxicity" relates to, "tainted milk and meat."

Clemson University did a taste study on eggs from hens fed 3% garlic and other hens in a control group. The tasters actually prefered the taste of eggs from garlic-fed hens. ScienceDaily

Hope that helps.

Steve

Garlic has a toxic agent. And garlic is toxic to dogs & cats! Noted some replies said they feed dogs garlic to ward off fleas in this Garlic Chicken feed. http://www.petjourneyvideo.com/food_avoid.html​

 

[CozyLittleChicken]

I have seen some information that it is very good for chickens to feed them garlic, and then I have seen other information that states that it's toxic!

Which is it??

I mean I use garlic on my magic chick water. Additionally I know
innumerable people that use garlic in their chick water.

 

[TanisGirl]

I dont know the pros & cons , but I have read on here that the garlic taste will transfer to the egg.

 

[TanisGirl]

I dont know the pros & cons , but I have read on here that the garlic taste will transfer to the egg.

Actually, it’s REALLY GOOD for chickens. It helps keep them from getting respiratory issues, intestinal parasites, keeps the mites and fleas from infesting -all SORTS of issues. You can use a little fresh garlic in their food or in their water, or put a little garlic powder in their food. Best to start them when they are chicks. And no, the eggs don’t taste like it.