What About Garlic?

[noodleroo]

I found the following information on the internet:

WHAT ABOUT GARLIC?

For Snakes
For example, in Nigeria, sliced garlic (Allium sativum) is placed around poultry houses to repel snakes.

For Mites

Research shows garlic essential oil may be an effective preventative and possible a curative for the treatment of external parasites. Hens affected by mites (in a controlled situation) had their vents sprayed with a 10% solution of garlic juice and water, once a week for three weeks. In the fourth week, hens were scored for the presence of northern fowl mites on their skin and feathers. Significantly fewer mites were found on the birds treated with garlic juice, versus those that received no treatment. The research indicated topical application of garlic juice to the skin of hens may be another effective way to decrease mite numbers. Veterinary Herbal Medicine (Susan Wynn, Barbara Fougre, published by Elsevier Health Sciences, 2006)


For keeping down the smell

With an increasing number of inner city poultry owners worldwide, and a build-up in the population of rural communities around poultry farms, scientists at Clemson University wanted to test whether feeding garlic powder to chickens could mask the odour of the chicken's manure.
They added garlic powder at a level of 3% to the bird's feed and started to measure the results. After three weeks, the odor was reduced, and the scientists reported the smell of manure was being replaced by the smell of a pizzeria. They also tested the taste of the eggs with consumers and found in blind taste tests, they preferred the "garlic" eggs over "normal" eggs.

Does anybody have any conformation on any of this info or any other garlic remedies?

 

[ChickenToes]

I don't know about garlic reducing the smell, if you keep everything clean there shouldn't be much of a smell. Anyway, garlic can also be used as a natural wormer for chickens, if you don't mind garlicky tasting eggs.

 

[digitS']

Here's the article in Science Daily on that Clemson study of garlic reducing smells:

Garlic Perfumes Poultry Houses

Yes, 3% garlic in the ration - it seems like a huge amount! According to taste tests, consumers actually preferred the flavor of the eggs.

I've put garlic in my chicken feed the last 2 summers but not any 3%! It does reduce the smell, or change it - at least. Even the hens smell a little of garlic

.

Steve

edited to add: I don't notice any garlic flavor to the eggs. However, I use about one-half teaspoon of garlic powder in every 2 cups of feed.

 

[noodleroo]

That is really interesting. I'm not really concerned about the smell but if garlic can improve my chicken's health, I would like to include it in their diet. I was thinking of putting a little crushed garlic in their water every day instead of in their feed; I just think it gets in their cells better in water. I'd really like to learn more. Anybody else have other suggestions?

 

[sookiesmom]

Just wanted to second what Chickentoes said. I did read a post on this site saying that garlic powder is a good wormer.