Natural Medications (Ethno-veterinary Methods) in Backyard Poultry Farming

Once again I am posting this article to help farmers who are into free-range/ indigenous/ village chicken farming. Misuse of antibiotics among poultry farmers is rampant and this is dangerous to both animals and human beings. Misuse of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance. The residues of antibiotics are left in animal products like eggs, poultry meat and milk. Fasten your seat belt and travel with me to the school of poultry studies. This lesson is for free; you won't find such a simplified article for free. We normally use food and spices in our day to day lives, but have you ever known that these foods are a cure to various ailments in your poultry flock?

Ginger, pepper, garlic, aloe vera and yoghurt are just among the various foods and spices that are medicinal in nature. Farmers practising organic farming will understand this better.

These natural remedies should be used alongside conventional drugs and vaccines, but try as much as possible to include biosecurity measures to fight off diseases. These medications only apply to small-holder farmers (100 birds and below).

1. Pepper

Have you ever wondered why some communities like them, especially Indians? Pepper has been known to improve metabolism, but in poultry it is useful as it helps kill parasites that cause digestive problems e.g. coccidiosis and also kills worms by burning them. Sprinkle ½ a teaspoon in chicken feed or feed them freely.

2. Garlic

This particular spice alongside onions helps the birds in boosting immunity and also fights respiratory problems in poultry. Garlic will also kill external parasites as it produces sulphur in the body. The sulphur in the chicken's blood will overpower the parasites. Add 3 cloves to 5 litres of water or a pinch or two of powdered garlic in dry feeds every day.

3. Ginger

Ginger in chicken will boost appetite, help in digestive problems and is also an immune booster. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.

Just add a small pinch of ginger powder to the feed or feed it whole or grind it.

4. Aloe vera

Aloe vera juice acts as an appetizer and also in treating wounds.

Squeeze a few drops of aloe vera juice onto the wound. It’s a natural antibiotic. It assists in curing victims of cannibalism.

Apply it on the wounds of cannibalized birds and the bitter taste will deter the culprits.

5. Fermented/sour milk/yoghurt/

Sour milk/yoghurt act as a probiotic and kills harmful bacteria in the intestines therefore ensuring an improved immunity. As a result of this diarrhoea is prevented.

Add it to feeds to form lumps but do not drench. It can also be fed free of choice.

6. Papaya/pawpaw seeds

Pawpaw seeds act as a good dewormer and also prevents coccidiosis infection. The seeds are used for this.

Dry the seeds for two weeks and grind them. Mix 10gms of the powder in 10litres of water.

7. Pumpkin/cucumber/courgette seeds

These seed when ground can be mixed in water to control worms.

8. Moringa

The plant provides lots of vitamins and minerals to your poultry flock.

You can dry the leaves and make powder for use in water or feeds.

9. Apple cider vinegar

Available in the supermarkets.

Use 5mls in 1 litre of drinking water and give to your birds for 3 - 5 days once a month. Rich in vitamins and minerals.

10. Pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Grind 20g seeds and mix with 500ml warm water and drench once to ranikhet diseased bird.

11. Black mustard (Brassica nigra L.) Seeds

Grind 50g seeds and mix with 1 litre of warm water and drench once to ranikhet diseased bird.

12. Bhumi Amla (Phyllanthus niruri) and Cuminum cyminum

Phyllanthus niruri 100g mixed with 20 gram seeds of Cuminum cyminum and given orally for three days to ranikhet diseased bird.

13. Onions (Allium cepa L.)

Cut pieces of small onion and give for three days to ranikhet diseased bird.

14. Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

Turmeric powder mixed with Neem paste for external application 75.6 Neem bark @ 1kg/1000 birds to be given after soaking in water, overnight and Neem leaves as top dressing to the birds affected with Fowl Pox.

15. Vacha, Vach (Acorus calamus L.)

Acorus calamus is grounded and then applied over the affected area of the skin on the hen i.e. the area affected with Ectoparasite Infestation.

16. Mewri; Nirgundi; Nisinda; Sambhalu; (Vitex negundo L.)

Smoke of notchi leaf is used to control the Ectoparasites.

17. Pyaz (Allium cepa L.)

Fresh onion stems are given to chickens to treat internal parasites or fever.

18. Aphim (Papaver somniferum L.)

Enteritis Paste of seeds (100g) is administrated to treat the enteritis and gastroenteritis

19. Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)

Wound Neem oil is used for wound healing.

When using all of these make sure you use conventional drugs too but in a controlled manner prescribed by a vet. Avoid misuse of antibiotics and always vaccinate your birds.

The ethno-veterinary practices play an important role in treatment of poultry diseases in rural villages. Further it is emphasized that backyard chickens should also be vaccinated against major diseases regularly for prevention of the disease. Ethno-veterinary medicine is a natural and economical method to treat many diseases under field conditions.