Flock Parasite Defense
Parasites are very real for all of us, but especially for chickens. The best way to keep them health and stay ahead of the game is being prepared with daily support. This is my mix, that I have tailored based on what I see. Add 1 tablespoon to food/ feed, daily, per 5 hens.
I mix everything in bulk. Amounts are for a 64 oz jar, adjust accordingly for your flock. If your flock is only on feed/ grains, mix based on their daily intake or if you’re doing multiple days of feed/ grains in larger feeders, mix well and adjust as needed.
Ingredients:
Ground pumpkin seed, shell on: 24 oz (680 g)
Parsley: 10 oz (283 g)
Oregano: 8 oz (227 g)
Garlic powder: 8 oz (227 g)
Thyme: 6 oz (170 g)
Crushed cayenne: 4 oz (113 g)
Whole peppercorns: 4 oz (113 g)
Benefits:
Ground pumpkin seed, shell on. Cucurbitin is in the seed. It is traditional support against roundworms. This also brings fat and fiber.
Garlic powder. Allicin support, milder once it is dried. It is antimicrobial in the gut, can make the blood less friendly to some parasites. Heavy daily use can show up in egg taste.
**Alternative to dried. Add fresh, crushed/ minced to a prepared meal, weekly. One large clove is enough for 5 hens. Two if cloves are small. Crush/mince and let it sit about 10 minutes so the allicin forms.
Oregano. Carvacrol and thymol. Those are the compounds studied in poultry for gut bacteria, coccidia pressure, and feed intake. It supports the gut lining.
Thyme. Same family as oregano, milder. Antimicrobial, helps digestion, and pairs with oregano instead of doubling one strong herb.
Parsley. Vitamin A, vitamin C, and chlorophyll. It is there for the blood and the gut, and it cuts the heat of the cayenne and garlic so they keep eating the mix.
Crushed cayenne. Capsaicin. Circulation, appetite, and a mild antimicrobial effect. Some parasite protocols use it to irritate worms enough that they let go. Too much and the birds sort it out. This jar keeps it at a dose they will still eat.
Black peppercorn. Piperine. It helps the hot spices get used instead of passing through. Whole corns need a shake or they sink.
*If you’re mixing both this and the Yolk and Gut Boost in the same meal or feed holders, do not add cayenne in the Yolk and Gut Boost to avoid overloading their systems.