⠀ How much oregano

[HandyTandy]

mine like all different herbs, and they free pasture sunup to sundown. But on occasion one needs a little something extra, and for the love of chickens we all try to keep them safe, well fed, and well sheltered. I love to come to this site and seek out extra ideas. Thanks for all the kind harted information that's shared.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Perfect oregano timing. I had just done my research as well and getting ready to make a tea. Came on looking for other ideas, like adding dried oregano to their layer feed. Wanted to see how much. I have a flock of 20 + kiddos running around the farm. I agree, Many benefits like natural antibiotic and the others

Your question can't be answered.

The anti bacterial and anti parasitic properties of oregano are quite limited. Their active compounds not present in significant quantity, and to the extent they are present, they are concentrated differently in stem and leaves AND vary with the season, the climate, and the soil conditions. Not knowing when your dried oregano was harvested, under what conditions, and how much of those compounds have been destroyed by drying, storage, oxidization, and sitting on the shelf exposed to light.... the concentrations are even more uncertain. Meaning the quantity needed for any reliable effect is uncertain.

But if you look at the studies, the few of any scientific vigor, the concentrated oils they are using wqere obtained from simply stupid amounts of oregano - far more than you are going to get in a spice islands or mccormick jar, and far to pricy to be a reasonable long term solution.

If you want to go the natural route - plant some oregano. Once established, its hard to kill. Your chickens will (largely) ignore it, and it makes a decent ground cover - but you can feel better about yourself for providing it, and it is (seasonally) attractive. Probably more nutritionally valuable for the bugs that like it than its mostly mythical antibiotic properties.

 

[HandyTandy]

Your question can't be answered.

The anti bacterial and anti parasitic properties of oregano are quite limited. Their active compounds not present in significant quantity, and to the extent they are present, they are concentrated differently in stem and leaves AND vary with the season, the climate, and the soil conditions. Not knowing when your dried oregano was harvested, under what conditions, and how much of those compounds have been destroyed by drying, storage, oxidization, and sitting on the shelf exposed to light.... the concentrations are even more uncertain. Meaning the quantity needed for any reliable effect is uncertain.

But if you look at the studies, the few of any scientific vigor, the concentrated oils they are using wqere obtained from simply stupid amounts of oregano - far more than you are going to get in a spice islands or mccormick jar, and far to pricy to be a reasonable long term solution.

If you want to go the natural route - plant some oregano. Once established, its hard to kill. Your chickens will (largely) ignore it, and it makes a decent ground cover - but you can feel better about yourself for providing it, and it is (seasonally) attractive. Probably more nutritionally valuable for the bugs that like it than its mostly mythical antibiotic properties.

Well thank you for you time Dr. Faucci. I will certainly take Into consideration your information. Might I suggest eating ice cream and chill out.

 

[nuthatched]

Perfect oregano timing. I had just done my research as well and getting ready to make a tea. Came on looking for other ideas, like adding dried oregano to their layer feed. Wanted to see how much. I have a flock of 20 + kiddos running around the farm. I agree, Many benefits like natural antibiotic and the others

Adding oregano to the feed, at best makes it smell italian, at worst is force feeding them antibiotics and can possibly make them immune to them in future should you ever need to use medical oregano as an antibiotic.
Antibiotics are Antibiotics, "natural" or otherwise.

 

[nuthatched]

Well thank you for you time Dr. Faucci. I will certainly take Into consideration your information. Might I suggest eating ice cream and chill out.

That was unnecessarily rude. He gave you real information on the subject you asked about.
I recommend you talk to a real, practicing naturopathic physician or classically trained herbalist, both of which, will confirm what he just said. Helpful components in herbs varies wildly, that's why when taking them for medical purposes, the doses are in powder or oil firm.
Just because it's 'natural' doesn't make it safe, be careful.

 

[HandyTandy]

It's not his information. That is appreciated. It's the tone that keeps coming across over and over as rude. I will apologize for my frustration.

 

[HandyTandy]

Adding oregano to the feed, at best makes it smell italian, at worst is force feeding them antibiotics and can possibly make them immune to them in future should you ever need to use medical oregano as an antibiotic.
Antibiotics are Antibiotics, "natural" or otherwise.

Good point

 

[007Sean]

Adding oregano to the feed, at best makes it smell italian, at worst is force feeding them antibiotics and can possibly make them immune to them in future should you ever need to use medical oregano as an antibiotic.
Antibiotics are Antibiotics, "natural" or otherwise.

I agree, I find the misuse of oregano and diatomaceous earth on the same level of ignorance! Just because your cousin's brother-inlaw's 10 year old son said they work miracles, doesn't make it scientifically true!

Oregano is great for seasoning many dishes and Diatomaceous Earth is great as a filter medium for aquariums, other than that any medicinal qualities attributed to their use is 'sooth-sayers' ballyhoo.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Well thank you for you time Dr. Faucci. I will certainly take Into consideration your information. Might I suggest eating ice cream and chill out.

Just reporting information. What you do with it is up to you. You misjudge my tone, easy enough to do in print, no offense taken - though I'd appreciate less name calling. No fan of Dr. Fauci here.

Can link studies if desired, to show the basis for my positions, and there's a picture of my oregano in my garden (several actually) here on BYC in various threads. My birds have free access. Apart from sometimes dust bathing in a hole I made in the middle of it when I transplanted a shovelful, they almost entirely ignore it.

A few links for your reading pleasure (rushing, I'm at lunch)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7570328/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0926669018302723
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7602849/
https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/view/journals/hortsci/47/6/article-p777.xml

Picture of my raised bed from two years back. I've since removed the netting, and the oregano has roughly tripled in size, taking over about 1/4 of the bed in the last 24 month. I have a larger patch in my pasture, maybe 25-30 sq ft of clover and oregano all growing together. Chokes out all competing plants.

As to Ice cream? Currently enjoying some Tillamook Mudslide. Its hot out - a fine suggestion, that.

 

[HandyTandy]

Well you a a gentleman. Thank you for accepting my apology. Enjoy your Ice Cream