Not emergency, but question about Flock Armor-type products

[Appalachickens]

A friend, who does not have chickens, sent me a video by a veterinarian stating that when chickens have dirty feathers around their vent, it can mean intestinal parasites. I immediately wondered what she was selling. I looked up the Flock Armor product she was in fact advertising and they recommend a "generous tablespoon" per chicken per day. For mine (until I get more), that's about 1 1/2 cups. A pound bag, which would last 1-2 days, is $36! So insanely expensive. However, they list the ingredients and it's just oregano and various peppers and flax. It would be easy enough to mix up a batch for much cheaper. My question: Is there any validity to feeding this to you chickens to cure/prevent parasites?

 

[Debbie292d]

There are actually A LOT of products like that one that boast to keep parasites out of and off of our chickens.

That particular one has similar herbs and spices, plus probiotics, flax, etc.

Do they work? This product, compared to you making your own batch, would probably have the same effect. They will never kill off parasites or worms; however, they may help prevent them. You could use Poultry Cell, Nutri-Drench, etc., in their water once or twice a week to give them the vitamin boost as well as your mix, and that would probably equate pretty close to that product.

If your chickens get mites or lice, most recommend using permethrin powder or spray on the chickens and in your coop.

If your chickens get worms, there are products that will kill the worms.

These things are just a preventative.

 

[Appalachickens]

There are actually A LOT of products like that one that boast to keep parasites out of and off of our chickens.

That particular one has similar herbs and spices, plus probiotics, flax, etc.

Do they work? This product, compared to you making your own batch, would probably have the same effect. They will never kill off parasites or worms; however, they may help prevent them. You could use Poultry Cell, Nutri-Drench, etc., in their water once or twice a week to give them the vitamin boost as well as your mix, and that would probably equate pretty close to that product.

If your chickens get mites or lice, most recommend using permethrin powder or spray on the chickens and in your coop.

If your chickens get worms, there are products that will kill the worms.

These things are just a preventative.

Thanks, that's helpful.