Fighting Parasites In Poultry

Parasites.  Worms.  In the gut, in the lungs, in the gizzards.  Ewwwww.

Most factory-style farms have to feed their chickens a constant stream of antibiotics and chemical wormers because the animals are living in filth and in such close quarters that the birds cannot fight off invading parasites and infections without it.  And everyone has heard about antibiotic resistance and how that carries over to we humans by direct or indirect exposure to antibiotics and how pesticides are linked to ill-health, so I'll skip that lecture, except to say that we take that risk seriously and do not feed antibiotics or pesticides to our birds.

I could go on and on about the different types of worms and infections and such that chickens can get but I'm drinking my morning tea and would rather talk about the positive side of life-sucking forces.  And that is their death. DEATH TO PARASITES!!!

This morning I whipped up a batch of organic parasite control for our birds.  I always like this day because I know that if there are any lurking parasites or infections in our flock, they are about to meet their doom. Doom and death!  Not something you typically hear on a blog about organic farming, so I'll say it again. DOOM AND DEATH!!!

Our worming regiment is done every thirty days to be sure we're killing the various cycles of parasites and bacterial infections. We include ingredients known to fight infections and parasites naturally.

Over the course of three days, we keep their clean drinking water dosed with Oregano Oil.  Our girls have a 2 gallon water trough and we put 6 drops of Oregano Oil in it.

We feed the following recipe to 45 chickens for their AM feeding (when they are hungry and sure to gobble it up) for three days in a row (I stick all ingredients, besides the oats, in a Vitamix with two cups of water for easy blending.)

4 c. Cooked Oats
2 T. Cayenne Chili Powder
2 T. Turmeric
2 heads of Crushed Garlic
1 T. Cinnamon
1 c. Pumpkin Seeds 
1 c. Diatamaceous Earth
5 drops Oregano Oil
5 drops Clove oil
30 drops Wormwood Tincture

After the three days, we feed them the following recipe for another three days to replenish their systems and provide an extra healthy boost:

4 c. Cooked Oats
4  Carrots shredded
½ c. Brewers Yeast 
1 T. Pro-biotic Powder
1 C. Kelp meal
1 C. Kombucha (or Apple Cider Vinegar)
1 C. Mint leaves (or 7 drops essential oil)

In the off times, we alternate adding in apple cider vinegar and food grade hydrogen peroxide to their drinking water as it works to keep their gut healthy, and a healthy gut is less likely to fall prey to parasites and infections.  We also sprinkle Diatamaceous Earth in their chicken coop & nesting boxes after cleaning up their droppings each morning.  When we have an abundance of cucumbers and pumpkins, we let them gorge on the seeds freely, as the seeds help paralyze and expel parasites.

And now a picture of happy and healthy chickens to clear the palate...