At the least, they can cause some pretty serious symptoms in your flock at high doses at worst, most can cause death.Ībdominal pain and diarrhea can be the result of ingesting aloe vera, so while it's great topically on burns and skin injuries, its best not to use it with your chickens, who are likely to peck at anything you administer to them. ![]() Here's a list of some of the potentially toxic herbs I try to stay away from. Some of the following potentially harmful herbs appear in all kinds of poultry products sold commercially or in homemade concoctions sold or recommended by individuals, so you want to always check the ingredient list before using any kind of herbal supplement or product with your flock - just to be on the safe side.Įven if the chicken aren't meant to eat a particular product, I avoid any product that contains any ingredients that could be potentially harmful, since as we know, chickens like to nibble and taste even things not necessarily meant to be eaten! And since chickens are so small, it doesn't take much to cause serious health problems.ġ2 Potentially Harmful or Toxic Herbs to Avoid in Chicken Keeping Just because something is labeled 'herbal' or 'natural' doesn't mean it's safe. While nearly anything can be harmful in exceedingly large dosages, even plain drinking water, several herbs, beneficial as they may be at the correct dose, can cause illness or even death in fairly small amounts.Īnd since little to no scientific study has been done as far as a safe dose for chickens, and I'm not a vet or medical professional, I just choose to err on the side of caution and stay away from anything that could be a potential problem. Most herbs have wonderful health benefits for both humans and animals and have been used down through the ages to treat, prevent and cure all kinds of ailments, but not all herbs are safe.Īs you likely know, I do use lots of herbs with my chickens, both in their environment and diet, but I am careful to stick to the common, culinary herbswhich are safe and perfectly edible, because some herbs are toxic to chickens (and humans as well!).
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