A quick breed spotlight on a lesser known fibromelanistic chicken: the Svarthöna.

A look into some common supplements used by chicken keepers for parasite control. Do they actually work?

The Bougie Coop is sponsored by Eden Feeds.

Links to studies referenced:

Red Pepper (capsaicin): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9495104/ (as antibiotic activity and good for gut health)

https://kkgpublications.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ijaps.5.50004-2.pdf (effect on parasites)

Pumpkin seeds: https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/103/Supplement_1/268/8139035 (No effect)

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283678017_Evaluation_of_the_anthelmintic_activity_of_pumpkin_seeds_Cucurbita_maxima_in_mice_naturall

https://cast.desu.edu/sites/cars/files/document/16/pumpkin_seeds-worms_djo.pdf No effect

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10209233/ no effect laying hens

https://meridian.allenpress.com/avian-diseases/article/69/1/74/505621/Effect-of-Supplementation-with-Artemisia No effect at doses that would be commonly given to backyard hens

Garlic: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09712119.2019.1573731#d1e2387

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10854602/

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/22/3185

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304401721002740

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV):

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8136961/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30450876/

Wormwood:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7070545/ (in sheep)

https://ijvar.org/index.php/ijvar/article/view/550/464

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/03079457.2024.2342882?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed#abstract

https://academicjournals.org/article/article1384248573_Seddiek%20et%20al.pdf

https://poultrydvm.com/supplement/wormwood

Diatomaceous Earth:

https://www.wpsa-aeca.es/aeca_imgs_docs/15369_com-11.pdf

We discuss one of the most difficult aspects of keeping chickens: euthanizing a sick or injured bird.

More information about humane euthanasia for chickens:

UC Davis Poultry Euthanasia Guidelines

Chicken Farmers of Canada On-Farm Chicken Euthanasia Guidelines