It’s every keeper’s dream to have a strong and healthy flock, and sometimes that means going the extra mile to make that dream a reality. Chickens are susceptible to a number of diseases because they live outdoors. So, one of the best ways you can protect your flock is by boosting their immune system! The stronger their immune system, the easier it will be for their bodies to fight off any harmful bacteria that could cause illness or infection. It’s surprisingly not that difficult to strengthen your flock’s immune system either. Here are 5 ways to boost a chicken’s immune system!
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
This classic ingredient has a great reputation for helping humans, but it’s benefits don’t stop there! Apple cider vinegar is actually a great natural way to improve your chicken’s health too. So, add a few drops to the water feeder to increase your flock’s daily intake of beneficial antioxidants. By reducing the levels of toxic harmful stressors, ACV can help fight bacteria like E-coli, coccidiosis, salmonella, and campylobacter. Along with keeping harmful bacteria at bay, apple cider vinegar also allows the gut to digest nutrients easily. Keepers have also claimed apple cider vinegar increased egg production and chicken’s general growth in some cases.
2. Fruits & Veggies
If you were looking for a reason to start that garden, here it is! It should come as no surprise that fruits and vegetables are good for chickens. They provide essential vitamins and minerals to help chickens thrive. Fruits like berries, apples, cherries, and melons tend to be a flock favorite. Vegetables from the cruciferous family (broccoli, kale, lettuce, and cabbage) are top tier immune boosters you can add to your flock’s diet right now! Garlic is another terrific addition that will strengthen your flock’s immunity significantly. Garlic has been used for years to treat respiratory problems and boost immunity.
3. Seeds & Grain
Chickens are used to foraging grain and seeds. Which means they’re more likely to approve snacks of this variety over the more unfamiliar ones. Pumpkin, flax, and sunflower seeds are rich in all the vitamins, minerals, and protein your flock craves daily! Incorporating some seeds and grain to your chickens’ diet will boost their health undoubtedly. In addition to seeds, some great grains to try out are oats, barley, malted grain, wheat berries, and corn. You can even try sprouting your own at home!
4. Probiotics
Just like us, chickens can benefit from probiotics in their diet. Probiotics are the healthy bacteria that help digest food and boost our immune systems. Here’s the kicker… They do the same for chickens! You can try giving your flock small doses of plain yogurt, because too much dairy is dangerous for chickens. Other alternatives are whey, fermented grains, or kombucha. Adding probiotics to their diet will allow your chickens to eat and digest with ease.
5. Eggs
Finally, the very thing they create can be great for their immune system too. You can try boiling or scrambling up some eggs and adding them to your flock’s diet. Eggs are an excellent source of protein and vitamins, plus they make a tasty treat! It’s important to always cook the eggs so your flock doesn’t develop a liking for raw eggs.
Always use your best judgement when introducing new items to your flock’s diet. Free-ranging chickens may get a lot of these benefits from foraging alone, so you might not need to add them all. Start slow so you can ease their bodies into their new tasty lifestyle. Since every chicken is different, you might notice some react to the above more (or less) than others. The more care you put into your flock’s dietary needs, the better off you’ll both be!