What kind of (if any) spices do you add to your feed?

[Nicho]

I recently saw a comment on the BYC Facebook mentioning the spices (and health benefits) they add to their birds feed.

I’ve been reading up on this but would like to hear your experience with it. Red pepper, oregano, garlic, cilantro, thyme? What’s your take and how did it affect your chickens, if at all? Preventative spices? Taste preference? Let’s chat about it.

***I know not all keepers do this- it’s not necessary but can be beneficial. It’s an old method that keepers have done for ages***



Some photos from the Nichols Flock for tax

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

I get free vegetables from my local supermarket. Sometimes there’s herbs in the mix. The hens also free range, so get whatever wild herbs there are

 

[igorsMistress]

I give my crew whatever herbs they like, but not for medicinal reasons. Cilantro, parsley, basil, thyme and oregano are favorites. They also eat the lemongrass, weirdos. Also a small amount chopped garlic from time to time. These are healthy for them yes, but their feed should provide everything they need so I only give these as treats.

 

[Ikslo]

I have herbs growing by my house, and my chickens free-range. If they want them, they can have them. Usually they nibble and move on. Only occasionally do I have a plant completely decimated, and then I just plant more. Last year it was basil. So now I also plant extra basil in my enclosed garden for me.

 

[Al Gerhart]

There is no reason to give the hens anything other than clean water, a commercial balanced pellet or crumble, and a clean dry place to live.

Most of stuff you will read has no scientific basis but it does make the people feel better which is the only reason they do it.

 

[kattabelly]

There is no reason to give the hens anything other than clean water, a commercial balanced pellet or crumble, and a clean dry place to live.

Most of stuff you will read has no scientific basis but it does make the people feel better which is the only reason they do it.

I've only had time to skim a few abstracts right now but a quick search brings up plenty of studies showing various herbal additives had a beneficial effect when added to commercial layer or broiler feed.

There might be an argument to be made that some of those "benefits" (from a commercial POV) made no or negligible difference, or possibly were even detrimental, to the birds themselves. I don't think it's fair to write off anything other than a diet of nothing but unamended commercial feed as entirely pointless and having no scientific basis, though.

E2a - which isn't to say that comments by randoms on facebook should be taken at face value either, of course!

 

[Al Gerhart]

Educate me please. Post links to those studies. Always glad to learn something new, might change my mind.

 

[kattabelly]

Educate me please. Post links to those studies. Always glad to learn something new, might change my mind.

These are just the first few that came up in a search and like I say, only had time to skim a few abstracts myself right now. If you want I can look for more/better studies later when my own chickens have stopped eating nettles and dockens and gone to bed!

Effects of thyme and oregano on performance and egg quality characteristics of laying hens

The Impact of Herbal Additives for Poultry Feed on the Fatty Acid Profile of Meat

Immunomodulatory Effects of Natural Feed Additives for Meat Chickens