Poultry farmers want to keep their chickens healthy. The most important measures to date are good housing, correect management, feed and vaccinations. But sometimes there are infections and parasites that disturb the chickens` well-being and health, such as chicken mite, worms, coccidiosis and E. coli. Then the animals need something “extra”. Organic poultry farmers prefer to use natural means to keep the chickens healthy or to support their recovery.



To cope with ectoparasites for example the following advice can be followed:

• Feeding garlic and vitamin B2 makes poultry less attractive to bloodsucking parasites such as red mites.

• Diatomite (made from fossil plankton or silica) damages the mites’ skin and causes them to dehydrate. Some

specific products have been developed in combination with essential oils.

• Products such as soft natural soap with white spirit (many repeat treatments needed), biodiesel, and a number of

plant extracts containing for instance absinth are also used, or even Coca Cola.

• Natural enemies that can be used against mites, lice and fleas are the lesser mealworm and predatory mites.

Pheromones may also be used to attract and catch ectoparasites.

• Specific products: see table on page 25 of the Naturally Healthy (Natuurlijk Gezond) booklet: https://bit.ly/2sQjFr5



Check local legislation before applying products!