10 Natural Medicine That Cure Poultry Diseases Easily

Indigenous chicken by its taste has a permanent high demand around the world. During the preparation of a chicken meal, one would ask for pepper, garlic, ginger and more ingredients to spice up the meal.

Unknown to many is the fact that the readily available spices are a perfect cure for diseases that kill most poultry flock like chicken. Ginger, Pepper, Garlic, Aloe Vera and Yoghurt are just but a few of the many home remedies for poultry diseases.

In this article, we endeavour to encourage poultry farmers to embrace organic farming through the use of natural medicines as opposed to excessive use of 'killer' antibiotics.

The natural medicines discussed in this article should be used alongside conventional drugs and vaccines but one should try as much as possible to include biosecurity measures to fight off diseases. This medications only apply to smallholder farmers(100 birds and below).

1.) Pepper (Pilipili)

Pepper or what is known to many as Pilipili has been known to improve metabolism but in poultry. It is useful as it aids killing parasites that cause digestive problems such as Coccidiosis and also kills worms by burning them. Below is how you can administer pepper;

• Sprinkle ½ teaspoon in chicken feed or feed to them free choice.

• Crash fresh pepper and add it to the clean drinking water for your poultry twice a week. This will help boost the immunity of your birds.

2.) Garlic (Kitungu Saumu)

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 and give the birds every day.

3.) Ginger (Tangawizi)

Ginger in chicken will boost appetite, helps in digestive problems and is also an immune booster. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. This means, your birds will be stronger to tame viral infections.

• 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. It works perfectly well in restoring the poultry digestive systems from infections. It can also be used in drinking water. Other benefits include;

• Squeeze a few drops of aloe vera juice into the wound. It's a natural antibiotic.

• It assists in curing victims of cannibalism.

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

5.) Fermented/Sour milk/Yoghurt

Sour milk or 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 among the flock.

• 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 these two reasons.

• Dry the seeds for two weeks and grind them.

• Mix 10gms of the powder in 10litres of water and give to the birds.

7.) Pumpkin/Cucumber/Courgette seeds.

Pumpkin seeds when ground are good for your birds. They can be mixed in water to control worms and as such, they will boost laying and their general health.

8.) Stinging nettle.

Have a closer look at the photo above. The Agikuyu call it Thabai. The plant can provide lots of vitamins and minerals to your poultry flock. Kindly let us know what you call it in your local language by commenting at the end of this article. We learn together.

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

9.) Apple cider vinegar.

This is mostly available in 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.) Croton nut/Croton megalocarpus (from Mukinduri tree)

The Mukinduri tree produce seeds and the nuts are ground and used as poultry feed due to their high protein content. If you know of any other medicinal plant or spices please feel free to add in the comment section.

Renowned poultry farming expert Okuta Ngura advises that when using all 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. My dream is to see farmers all over the world succeed in their ventures," says Okuta Ngura.