Oregano for Chickens · Garden Apothecary Academy

Oregano for Chickens

Oregano: A Powerful Herb for Keeping Chickens Healthy

Oregano isn’t just for pizza!

This tasty herb can actually help keep chickens healthy! It’s packed with special oils called carvacrol and thymol that fight off germs, fungi, and even parasites.

Lots of people who raise chickens—whether in their backyard or on big farms—are starting to use oregano instead of synthetic chemicals. It’s like a superhero for chickens’ immune systems, helping them stay strong against nasty bugs like E. coli and Salmonella. A study from Poultry Science in 2016 showed that adding oregano oil to chicken feed makes their stomachs happier by kicking out bad bacteria and letting the good ones grow (Kirkpinar et al., 2016). Another experiment in the Journal of Applied Poultry Research from 2014 found that oregano oil cuts down on E. coli in their guts, which is amazing. (Bozkurt et al., 2014).

Now, let’s talk parasites—those nasty worms that can make chickens sick. Parasites like roundworms and tapeworms can make them lose weight, stop laying eggs, or just feel blah. Oregano’s special oils can mess up those parasites and help kick them out naturally. A 2011 study in Veterinary Parasitology proved that carvacrol and thymol in oregano oil can shrink the number of worms in chickens if you use the right amount (Giannenas et al., 2011). People mix a little oregano oil in the chickens’ water or toss some dried oregano in their feed to keep parasites away.

Plus, oregano has antioxidants, which are like tiny shields that keep chickens feeling good and less stressed. A 2018 study in Animal Feed Science and Technology found that oregano makes chickens healthier overall by boosting those shields (Zhang et al., 2018). It’s cheap and natural, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to skip chemicals.

So, oregano’s a total champ for chickens! It helps their immune system and fights off parasites. Scientists are still figuring out the best ways to use it, but it’s already a great trick for keeping your flock happy.

References

Bozkurt, M., et al. (2014). "Effects of dietary supplementation with oregano essential oil on performance and gut health of broilers." Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 23(3), 456-463.
Giannenas, I., et al. (2011). "Effect of dietary oregano oil supplementation on intestinal parasitism in broilers." Veterinary Parasitology, 179(1-3), 214-219.
Kirkpinar, F., et al. (2016). "Effects of oregano and garlic essential oils on performance and gut microbiota in broilers." Poultry Science, 95(7), 1656-1663.
Zhang, K. Y., et al. (2018). "Antioxidant effects of oregano essential oil in broiler chickens." Animal Feed Science and Technology, 236, 123-130.

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