Tag Archives: parasites in chickens

Benefits of Herbs for Chicken Health

The trends of taste among people have been changing quite drastically. In older days, people use to give priority to vegetables more as compared to meat food. But now it’s the opposite. And in this, the usage of chicken has been in the top of the list. The increase in the consumption of chicken by people belonging to different countries has led to the proper farming of chicken in order to fulfill the daily needs. But this farming has also raised some medical issues in respect of chicken health due to not handling them properly. Un-controlled and un-healthy environment creates parasites in chickens that not only affects the health of that chicken but also affects the health of other chickens. Therefore, remedy for this problem is using herbs. It is not necessary that these herbs can only be used for chicken farming on large scale. Even if you have small pack of chickens at the backyard of your house, you can also use these herbs to keep your chicken healthy. So below are some of the uses of herbs that are beneficial for the health of the chicken.

 Herbs for chicken

As we all are well aware that chickens eat green plants for their survival. If green plants are the food than why not provide with such green plants that does not only satisfy their basic need, that is food, but also keeps them healthy and reduces the chances of getting any worms in chicken. In order to provide them with useful herbs, you need to make some good room for the chickens. Chickens can be more happy and healthy when they have plenty of room to walk, spread their wings and find their food themselves. Keeping them in fence cannot fulfill this purpose that accurately as this is practiced for the convenience of humans and keeping chickens away from predators. The important herbs that are useful for the health of chicken and also so that they could lay healthy eggs are comfrey, garlic, chickweed, elder, hyssop, feverfew, nasturtium, tansy, lavender, kale, Gotu Kola, and nettle.

 Some Herbs and their benefits

The herbs that are mentioned above have separate benefits for chicken. These are described below.

Comfrey:

this herb is filled with tonic food and protein and has a high level of calcium and potassium in it. This herb is also beneficial in providing amino acid. Feeding this herb daily to chickens will not only help them in being healthy but they will lay eggs with golden yolk as well.

comfrey for chicken health

Chickweed:

This herb is very common and it grows in the cooler months. This herb is on the top of the list that is liked by chickens.

Chickweed FOR CHICKEN

Feverfew:

This herb is effective in controlling mites and lice that possesses some serious threats to the health of chickens. This herb produces self seeds and ample of flowers. These flowers and leaves can be converted in to a tea and then sprayed to control mites and lice.

Feverfew for chicken

Gotu Kola:

This herb grows in areas that are partially shaded. The leaves of this herb are very useful tonic for chickens and this herb can also be used for some of external skin conditions.

Gotu Kola for chicken

Nasturtium:

This herb has antibiotic and antiseptic characteristics and helps in repelling the insects away from the chicken.

Nasturtium for chicken

Nettle:

 This herb not only is rich in minerals and vitamins but also it prevents chicken against worms. This herb can be added with comfrey after drying it so as to give a boost for laying eggs.

Nettle for chicken

Herbs and chickens health

Some of you may have experienced that the chickens which you have been keeping in your backyard or on your farm are getting less active and are often seen in unhealthy shape. This may lead to death of some chickens as well. If you are providing them with proper food, water and shelter and wonder why still this is happening, so the reason is their declining immune system. The reason in the declining of chicken’s immune system is unhealthy diet. You may have been providing proper feed for hen but sometimes that is just not enough. Giving them proper diet which includes useful herbs is also very important. These herbs have the necessary proteins and vitamins that do not only strengthen the immune system of chicken but also helps them in fighting with any parasites in chickens. The stronger the immune system is, the healthier is the chicken and will also lay healthy eggs. The immune system not only helps the chickens to fight with parasites but also to counter lice and mites diseases that may not only affect the health of one chicken, but may also affect other chicken as well. Besides the fact that these herbs help in maintaining the immune system of chickens, there is one also additional benefit received from these herbs. These herbs not only make the immune system of chickens more defensive but also provide the necessary calcium and proteins that helps in the nourishment of these chickens. As healthy the chicken will be, there are greater chances that the egg laid by the egg laying chickens will also be rich in protein and calcium. And when these eggs will be used as a source of food by the people, they will also have a better and healthy life.

Above are some of the benefits discussed of using various herbs for the proper nourishment of chickens and why they are essential for the immune system of chickens as well. So if you think that the food which you are providing to your chickens is enough, than think again. This information will help you to keep your chickens more healthy and active and the herbs mentioned will help the chickens in fighting various diseases as well.

Here is more information on types of herbs,their benefits and how to use them

http://orgprints.org/20460/1/sb_poultry.pdf

dust bath for chickens

How To Make an Indoor Dust Bath For Your Chickens

One fine day I was having tea with a few of my friends – it was a small chit chat session which we used to enjoy like anything. We all belong to different states of mind but enjoy each other’s company. I had a big farm kind of a thing; I had lots of adorable backyard creatures. I adapted to this hobby because I grew up seeing my father treating these cute little fellows as a family. Keeping chickens is indeed one of the interesting habits, and this was what I had been debating upon, on the tea table the other day. My friends considered keeping chickens as one of the most annoying habits because of the 2 major reasons, parasites in chickens and poops. I mean c’mon this is something that is of least concern – there is ample amount of ways through which poop management can be carried out effectively.

Likewise, making sure that chickens are germs and parasite free seem to be an easy task now – little knowledge is dangerous that’s what I said the other day and put a full stop to the debate. How do I manage all this, especially taking care of the chickens – here is the secret?

Chicken dust baths – what is this now?

Something you must have not heard before, but very essential to know if you have even a single hen. Dust bathing can be referred to the ultra comfortable spa treatment for the little babies. Sounds hilarious? It’s indeed recreational and functional at the same time. In general, dust bathing is like a normal shower for chickens and after this bath, they feel more relaxed, clean and healthy. After the bath the chickens are in a really good mood and they try to socialize with other fellows as well.

Indoor dust bath:

The indoor dust bath is nothing extraordinary but a dust box that you create and place inside the chicken coop. It’s created a setup where chickens take their dust bath with fellows or individually – they relax and enjoy their time.

indoor dust bath

Recipe for dust bathing:

You must be thinking what does the dust bath box comprise of? Well there is no such recipe for that, but yes a few useful materials can help your chickens in enjoying their spa treatment. The box contains a mixture of pine shavings, sand, fireplace ash, mulch and soil – chickens toss their bodies into this mixture and get rid of all the parasites, unwanted feathers and other mites. The sand mixture also absorbs the unwanted oil on the skin and the body of the chickens.

recipe for dust bath

You must take necessary measures to repel parasites otherwise your chickens would get into trouble – this may result in;

  • Weight loss
  • Feather damage
  • Irritation
  • Improper egg production

Other benefits of dust bath:

Especially in summers when the birds fail to stand against the temperature, they prefer digging down into the dust boxes so that they can retain coolness. The soil is cooler inside the box, especially those placed inside the coops. It’s very beautiful to see the chicken behavior during this entire process – they  walk with attitude to the box, think of themselves as something really special, they dig there, have fun and then come out after some time. They boldly shake off the entire dust and dirt, groom the feathers and go back to their coop areas.

dust bath for chickens

What are other ways to control parasites in chickens?

A healthy chicken would never be exposed to any of the parasitic disease. The herbs for chicken health – you must severe these cute fellows with juicy fruits, vegetables and natural food. This would help them in retaining necessary vitamins, minerals and strength their immune system. Sadly, when chickens are exposed to diseases, the chances of retaining health back are quite low, in fact hardly anyone survives.

Dust bath areas – birds are choosy at times:

You cannot study chicken behavior all the time – they are really moody.  Free range chickens will choose their own areas for dust bathing. The materials that I have mentioned are adored by almost every chicken – I have an ample amount of fellows so I can conclude this easily. I hope by now you have enough idea how to provide finest spa treatment to the chickens.

10 most common diseases in backyard chickens- symptoms,treatment

I don’t need to accentuate on how more and more people are getting into the habit of raising backyard fellows – this activity is indeed of more interest to people because of its mesmerizing benefits – poultry provides with fresh yummy eggs as well as meat; everything is right there in your backyard, wow, so economical. However, this pocket friendly option may turn into cost if you fail to take care of the little fellows. You may have enough experience in dealing with chicken daily care, but no knowledge of chicken health. Spreading of pathogens amongst the flocks is really common, but with proper care and attention the chances can be minimized. Although the smaller backyard setups are lesser affected by poultry diseases but the owners must know about the basic symptoms and necessary preventions so that a cure can be provided before the worst happens.

1: Fowl Pox:

In layman’s language this disease can be referred to chickenpox, but is way different from the ones which affect humans. It’s a viral and contagious disease which can spread directly or by mosquito – the basic chicken disease symptoms are the visibility of warty bumps near the legs; also, you may see the formation of lesions in the mouth area. Vaccination is the only prevention, in worst cases; it may kill the chickens too.

fowl fox inchickens

2: Infectious Bronchitis:

This is one of the chicken illnesses which are really painful and dangerous – it not only destroys the esophagus (respiratory pipe) but also spreads amongst the healthy fellows. The major symptoms include;

  • Lesser egg production – the laid eggs would be dry, rough and whites would be watery
  • Loss of appetite

Unfortunately, this disease is viral, so there is no such treatment for chicken recovery.

Infectious Bronchitis in chickens

3-External Parasites:

It may include even the simplest parasite which you may not even pay attention too – for example, fleas have a real enemy of backyard birds as well as other pets. You must treat these parasites with proper medication so that chickens ailments can be avoided. Proper fumigation against the following may help;

  • Tics
  • Mites
  • Lice
4-Internal Parasites:

Internal parasites usually refer to worms inside the body – they are of no harm usually, but in many cases they turn into bad shape. Mostly, newly born chickens are affected by this because of weak immune systems. Loss of weight, appetite or diarrhea is a clear indication that something is wrong. Take the affected bird to the vet; he may help you with this.

However, in severe cases the internal parasite may cause Coccidiosis in younger birds.If symptoms of coccidiosis are found in birds; treat them with 9.5cc of liquid amprolium (brand name Corid) per gallon of water for 4 days.the droppings will be free of blood within 24 hours however you must carry it for 3 additional days within 2 weeks.

In order to prevent your backyard from these hassles, you must carry out following instant measures;

  • Keep the chicken coop clean and cool
  • Always buy vaccinated chickens
  • Never keep viral infected chickens with healthy ones
  • You must provide herbs for chickens (for fighting with parasites in chickens by  boosting their immune system)
5: Marek's disease:

It remains the most common yet contagious disease because it affects birds intensely – it’s fatal and still untreated. Usually it affects the younger chickens because of their weak immune systems – basically, the white blood cells begin to destroy and this leads to cancer and other fatal diseases. It is spread by the loss of feathers and dust – also, the symptoms include;

  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Paralyzed neck, wings and legs
  • Weight loss

 

Marek's disease

6: Nutritional deficiencies:

Feed for backyard chicken must be healthy and full of nutritional value – if you fail to provide them with what their need is, they would suffer from various diseases and issues. For example, lack of calcium would result in rickets and poor bone structure. Similarly, if the birds won’t get enough energy they would not lay eggs effectively. Vegetables, fruits and grains may help to provide complete nutritional value.

7: Reproductive Problems:

Many times chickens are not able to produce eggs according to their capacity because of reproductive problems; it includes egg binding – the condition in which birds are unable to pass out eggs. Similarly, there gets inflammation in the shell gland and oviduct which is known as metritis – all this stops the egg productions and cause swollen abdomen.

8: Exotic Diseases:

This chicken disease refers to severe flu, avian influenza and respiratory track diseases – this causes severe depression and irritation in the flocks – it further makes the system complicated by slowing down egg production and collapse of the nervous system.

9:  Frostbite:

If you are living in colder region, you must be aware of this annoying chicken disease. Cold weather chicken breeds tend to remain protected from this because of their tendency to fight against the temperature – however, conventional types suffer from frostbite. Winterizing the chicken coop may help, in fact it would definitely help. Black spots appear in the toes, legs, combs and necks which are a clear symptom of this disease (more often in roosters because of their large comb). You need to take the birds to the vet; message with jelly or oil may not really help.

froste bite in chickens

10: Cannibalism:

Many times chickens tend to put them into trouble – for example, they would go around and intentionally put their toe on the wounds of other birds – this is how the infection develops. This tendency may develop from overcrowding, lack of feed and water, heating, improper ventilation and insufficient nesting. Therefore, you must keep the infected birds separately so that you can minimize the chances of cannibalism.