Let's talk Oregano Essential Oil for Chickens... Uses? Dosing? Benefits? Can it be used daily?

[Bonkerelli]

I would only give oregano essential oil to mature chickens.. greater than a year old.

 

[Chicken lover1980]

I love this conversation! I do a lot of research on holistic approaches to medicine, and Oil of Oregano is part of it.
First off, I would like to mention that you DO NOT not want to use Oregano Essential oil. Essential oil is extremely potent to a point where it can be harmful. Despite that, I've seen many blog posts for chickens taking about the benefits of essential oil.
What your looking for is Oil of Oregano. That is simply Oregano oil, and ins't nearly as potent at essential oil. They are on the right track of herbal and holistic medicine, but obviously not doing enough research.


Oil of Oregano can actually be used as a natural antibiotic in cases. I swear by it. Every time I'm exposed to a virus, I take Oil of Oregano right after, and have never caught it. This article explain more about it being a natural antibiotic. I actually mentions that it is used in the chicken feed industry for Organic Farmers who can't feed antibiotics to their birds. The article is for dogs, but its a source I trust with good info. All the benefits it talks about is the same, expect for dosage. https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/oil-of-oregano-natural-antibiotic-for-dogs-2/

Just from taking it myself, I've learned that it is very very "spicy", and actually can be hard on the gut. Its a hot oil, and its not something I would ever want to feed any animal on an empty stomach. I took it before breakfast once, and that was not fun at all. Some people can't even tolerate the oil. It has a lot of benefits, but is one of the harsher holistic remedies out there. With that said, I would not put it in your chickens water like you mentioned. I think they would be getting a lot of it, possibly on an empty stomach, and over time that could actually cause more harm than good. The only other caution I would take, is make sure you are getting Oil of Oregano. You actually have to type Oil of Oregano into the search bar, or else you will get essential oil, which is not what your looking for.
If you are looking to use oregano as an immune booster, I would simply add the fresh herb to their feed. I soak my feed, so that makes it easier, but you could mix it into their dry feed as well. I would expect a fresh herb to be more beneficial than a dried herb. Unless its freeze dried, the drying process often pulls a lot of key nutrients out of the product. I'm not sure if it would affect its ability to boost the immune system, but it might.

Yes! For myself I have. As a preventative to getting nay kind of virus, and as a general immune booster. I think that its a great preventative for all kinds of things in all animals. Though if you wanted to feed the oil on a regular basis, I would put one drop per bird in a days worth of soaked feed, maybe even less, and mix it in really well. I say that since the dosage for dogs is 2-3 drops, so 1 drop for a chicken sounds about right. Then feed that. Or if you wanted to use it as a natural antibiotic. That way they wont get it on an empty stomach, and it shouldn't be to much for them. Possibly even divide the feed between multiple stations, so all the birds get it.
Personally, I wouldn't feed the oil daily. I feel like its very strong, and could possible be pretty rough on their guts. I would stick to the fresh herb, and the oil every now and then. There are other herbs that work amazing as immune boosters and disease preventative. Echinacea supposedly will keep dogs from ever getting any viruses if you feed it before exposure, or right after. Its also not nearly as hard on the gut, so possible a good alternative. Here is an article on it for dogs. https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/can-echinacea-boost-your-dogs-immune-system/
Since echinacea isn't so hard on the gut, I wouldn't be as concerned about an exact dosage. For most herbal remedies, I don't think you can over do it, Oil of Oregano is just one that I am cautious with.

this right here pretty much sums it up perfectly!

Also, you will get some naysayers and some who say its a good idea to use them.

The main idea is that essential oils of any kind are super strong and can easily be overdosed. That's why so many people advise against them and don't use them themselves.

they are safe if you are educated and know how to dose properly tho, and your dosages seem to be good, although I have heard of using 4 drops per gallon of water as well

like U_Stormcrow said it's a good idea to let them have access to an oregano plant that they can snack on, I actually have a few including rosemary, mint, oregano, and thyme!

because the strength of the plant is so much less concentrated in the plant, versus an extract the raw plant is best used as a preventative (unless you can use a whole lot of the raw plant) and have an extract like oregano oil on hand for times of sickness when a stronger concentration is needed.

 

[NeedToKnowItAll]

Just a humorous update I want to share because everyone is advising that the essential oils are potent. I had no idea how potent... I made a mixture of Cinnamon Tree and Clove Bud Essential Oil to ward off snakes. I left it in a plastic cup for a little bit before I was able to soak the wood pieces I planned on placing around my coop. Not even 10 minutes of sitting in the plastic cup and the cup had melted, disintegrated, gone up to the line where the essential oil had stopped in the cup. For just the heck of it, I poured the Oregano Essential Oil into a plastic cup and it did the same in less time. Imagine what this stuff does to an animals insides or even a humans!!! I am so glad I posted here before giving any sort of try with the Oregano ESSENTIAL oil!!!

 

[Weeg]

Just a humorous update I want to share because everyone is advising that the essential oils are potent. I had no idea how potent... I made a mixture of Cinnamon Tree and Clove Bud Essential Oil to ward off snakes. I left it in a plastic cup for a little bit before I was able to soak the wood pieces I planned on placing around my coop. Not even 10 minutes of sitting in the plastic cup and the cup had melted, disintegrated, gone up to the line where the essential oil had stopped in the cup. For just the heck of it, I poured the Oregano Essential Oil into a plastic cup and it did the same in less time. Imagine what this stuff does to an animals insides or even a humans!!! I am so glad I posted here before giving any sort of try with the Oregano ESSENTIAL oil!!!

Wow! I knew that stuff was potent, but not that potent! I think it definitely depends on the brand too. I know a friend who swears by a drop of oregano essential oil. I used lemon mertile essential oil on a wart years back. It burns! Never tired that again.

 

[HenHouse Henry]

I'd say its "voodoo", but that gives short shrift to voodoo, which is at least an organized magical sytem.

Paracelsus said (translated, paraphrased) "The Dosage is the Poison" Thousands of years ago. Still true today.

Many chemicals which are useful in small quantity are dangerous in greater quantity - true whether they are organic, all natural, man-made chemical processes, or the result of gene splicing some e coli.

If you don't know the concentration of the active ingredient whose properties you are attempting to make use of, you are doing little more than randomly dosing yourself or your animals with something you found in the pill cabinet, and hoping for the best. Its magical thinking, and its amatuerish at best.

Better to simply plant some oregano, and trust the chickens will eat of it what they want. At least you won't accidentally poison one that way.

 

[HenHouse Henry]

Just plant a bunch of oregano and let the chickens go wild. it's good for them and you don't need to worry about over-dosing your girls.

 

[medusine]

they are safe if you are educated and know how to dose properly tho, and your dosages seem to be good, although I have heard of using 4 drops per gallon of water as well

I don't see how diluting essential oil in water would be safer... Since it's oil and water, it seems like it would be impossible to get a truly homogenous mixture, and you'd be left with a gallon of plain water, with a bunch of little droplets of undilute essential oil sitting on the top. Potentially leading to the first, thirstiest couple of birds getting A) most of the dosage just to themselves, and B) whatever ill-effects from skin/mouth/throat having direct contact with the undiluted oil.

 

[EIEIO Funny Farm]

I have seen so many recommendations for oregano essential oil, not only for chickens but for human consumption as well, but mostly when a sickness occurs. I know I have read an article or two about Oregano Essential Oil being used daily as a preventative/immune booster for chickens but, I cannot for the life of me find any information on this now that I have bought this bottle from Amazon in my hands. The dosages that I have ran across are: 1 drop per gallon of water for chickens that are 18 weeks or older. 18 weeks and younger: a toothpick dipped into the oregano essential oil and then place the toothpick in a 16 oz spray bottle full of water and mist the chick feed lightly. Im not confident in this dosage so PLEASE correct me if I am wrong. I want to know everything you know about Oregano Essential Oil... What are the uses? What are the benefits? What are the downfalls or cautions when using? Has anyone used Oregano Essential Oil as a preventative? Is this dosage correct per age? Can it be used daily? TIAView attachment 3113037

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[EIEIO Funny Farm]

I love this conversation! I do a lot of research on holistic approaches to medicine, and Oil of Oregano is part of it.
First off, I would like to mention that you DO NOT not want to use Oregano Essential oil. Essential oil is extremely potent to a point where it can be harmful. Despite that, I've seen many blog posts for chickens taking about the benefits of essential oil.
What your looking for is Oil of Oregano. That is simply Oregano oil, and ins't nearly as potent at essential oil. They are on the right track of herbal and holistic medicine, but obviously not doing enough research.


Oil of Oregano can actually be used as a natural antibiotic in cases. I swear by it. Every time I'm exposed to a virus, I take Oil of Oregano right after, and have never caught it. This article explain more about it being a natural antibiotic. I actually mentions that it is used in the chicken feed industry for Organic Farmers who can't feed antibiotics to their birds. The article is for dogs, but its a source I trust with good info. All the benefits it talks about is the same, expect for dosage. https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/oil-of-oregano-natural-antibiotic-for-dogs-2/

Just from taking it myself, I've learned that it is very very "spicy", and actually can be hard on the gut. Its a hot oil, and its not something I would ever want to feed any animal on an empty stomach. I took it before breakfast once, and that was not fun at all. Some people can't even tolerate the oil. It has a lot of benefits, but is one of the harsher holistic remedies out there. With that said, I would not put it in your chickens water like you mentioned. I think they would be getting a lot of it, possibly on an empty stomach, and over time that could actually cause more harm than good. The only other caution I would take, is make sure you are getting Oil of Oregano. You actually have to type Oil of Oregano into the search bar, or else you will get essential oil, which is not what your looking for.
If you are looking to use oregano as an immune booster, I would simply add the fresh herb to their feed. I soak my feed, so that makes it easier, but you could mix it into their dry feed as well. I would expect a fresh herb to be more beneficial than a dried herb. Unless its freeze dried, the drying process often pulls a lot of key nutrients out of the product. I'm not sure if it would affect its ability to boost the immune system, but it might.

Yes! For myself I have. As a preventative to getting nay kind of virus, and as a general immune booster. I think that its a great preventative for all kinds of things in all animals. Though if you wanted to feed the oil on a regular basis, I would put one drop per bird in a days worth of soaked feed, maybe even less, and mix it in really well. I say that since the dosage for dogs is 2-3 drops, so 1 drop for a chicken sounds about right. Then feed that. Or if you wanted to use it as a natural antibiotic. That way they wont get it on an empty stomach, and it shouldn't be to much for them. Possibly even divide the feed between multiple stations, so all the birds get it.
Personally, I wouldn't feed the oil daily. I feel like its very strong, and could possible be pretty rough on their guts. I would stick to the fresh herb, and the oil every now and then. There are other herbs that work amazing as immune boosters and disease preventative. Echinacea supposedly will keep dogs from ever getting any viruses if you feed it before exposure, or right after. Its also not nearly as hard on the gut, so possible a good alternative. Here is an article on it for dogs. https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/can-echinacea-boost-your-dogs-immune-system/
Since echinacea isn't so hard on the gut, I wouldn't be as concerned about an exact dosage. For most herbal remedies, I don't think you can over do it, Oil of Oregano is just one that I am cautious with.

What about peppermint oil? I know it can be used in coop for pest control.
How about a drop in a couple gallons of drinking water as a cooling agent?
It’s HOT here! I’ve chopped up mint leaves and put some in the water and topped their watermelon with it, but they are not interested in eating it.
My sisters hens love eating peppermint leaves.

Anyone have experience in using peppermint oil in water to cool their hens?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

The "cooling sensation" of peppermint (or any mint) doesn't actually make your temperature drop. Nor will it make your chickens any cooler. Menthol merely tricks your brain into THINKING you are cooler.