Last Updated on June 14, 2023 by Georgie Smith
What if there was a way for you to give your chicks a better chance of survival while they are young? Probiotics have been proven to be a great way to improve the life quality of your chicken.
Probiotics literary mean ‘for life.’ It is the opposite of antibiotic. Therefore, every time you give antibiotics to your chicken, you should also provide the best probiotics for chickens to ensure that the right bacteria keep growing.
Most people mistakenly assume that salmonella is usually transmitted to people primarily through dirty eggs. However, this is not true. While dirty eggs do in fact cause illness, the causes of salmonella-infected eggs are infections in the hen’s dirty ovaries.
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Probiotics given to baby chicks reduce the risk of being infected with salmonella in eggs and diseases later in the life of the hen. In this article, you will learn why you should administer a probiotic and which are the best on the market.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live, nonpathogenic bacteria that promote the health of the intestinal tracts. They also help balance the digestive system. These good bacteria aim to strengthen the immunity of the chicken and allow them to digest the food they consume more efficiently.
By improving the immune system, it then allows the chicks to grow stronger and healthier. It is important to note that this bacterium is almost similar to the bacterial cultures that are in yogurts. These bacteria are useful in helping cure an upset stomach caused by eating bad food.
They also allow your digestive system to work better when you have overeaten. That is why some chicken keepers give yogurt to their chicken. However, it is critical for you to understand that most birds, including chicken, are not equipped to digest most dairy. They work better by directly ingesting the good bacterial culture.
Research showed that giving probiotics to new chicks as soon as they hatch helps them develop resistance to specific diseases later in life. That is particularly important for backyard chicken-keepers to provide their chickens with probiotics to allow them to have a healthy and productive life.
Both the small and large intestines have bacterial organisms like yeast that are known as Microflora. These help the digestive system work better. When chicks hatch, they are sterile. If the mother hen raises them, they acquire microflora by consuming their mother’s fecal matter.
Artificially incubated chicks do not have this privilege. For such chicks, owners need to provide them with probiotics which deliver microflora that inhabit the chick’s digestive system. Through these probiotics, the chicks can fight off pathogenic bacteria such as salmonella.
Benefits of Probiotics to Chickens
For the most significant results, you should add probiotics to your chicken feed daily. After all, prevention is always better than cure. By now you are wondering, what are the benefits of probiotics for poultry.
- Helps support a healthy digestive system
- Strengthens the immune system
- Increases the good bacteria count in your body
- Helps in composting
- Better eggshell quality
- Bigger eggs
- More egg production
- Reduces the chances of your chicks dying because of salmonella or E. coli
- Reduces the chances of your hens passing on these diseases to your chicks
- Reduces fly population
- Promotes digestion and feed conversion
- Helps prevent antibiotic-related diarrhea
- Reduces bowel inflammation
- Reduces food intolerance
How to Use Probiotics for Chickens
Probiotics are supplements. However, much like most supplements, it is essential to know how to use them to ensure that your chickens benefit.
Through Daily Feeds
One of the most popular ways to use probiotics for chicks is by mixing them with their food. Making it a daily routine makes it easy for your flock to have the probiotics they need always. You can add the probiotics to the feed you introduce to your baby chickens at a ratio of 2 percent.
The most common probiotic is known as Lactobacillus acidophilus. It is a naturally occurring probiotic and is best when it is administered directly through its powered or liquid form. For your poultry to gain the most significant benefit, combine it with the water or food the birds will be consuming.
Introducing it daily to the digestive system allows your hatchlings always to be ready to fight off infections.
Selective Inclusion
Here is an excellent way to help your birds stay healthy, disease resistant and enable them to have increased egg production. In this process, you can use probiotics along with other supplements and vitamins every day. You also need to use it before, during, and after breeding and showing.
For showing, the best probiotics for chickens help ward off illnesses that may be in the daily environment of the birds. Breeding hens usually drink water excessively. Introducing probiotics into the water, it reduces the vulnerability of the hens.
Breeding and showing are susceptible times in the life of your birds. They are more prone to contracting diseases during these times. Using probiotics reduces the chances of the birds getting the diseases.
During the Use of Antibiotics
When the birds are ill, you may need to use antibiotics. Antibiotics may cause hormonal changes. They also change the PH of the digestive system. When illness-causing bacteria attacks poultry, the changes their body go through allow the harmful bacteria to attach themselves to the lining of the small intestines.
The bad bacteria destroy the protective lining of the intestines. That, in turn, reduces the absorption of minerals and vitamins into the body. Therefore introducing probiotics helps the bird’s immune system have a winning chance against harmful bacteria.
It is also a great way to promote the appetite of your birds which is valuable when you need to maintain the weight of a sick bird.
How to Introduce Probiotics to Your Chicken’s Feed
There are two ways that you can add probiotics to your bird’s diet. If you have a small flock, you can buy flavored versions of the probiotics, especially the L. Acidophilus. The rate of about 0.7cc per bantam each day in drinking water should suffice.
For more massive flocks, you may want to consider poultry probiotic powder that contains a wide range of probiotics. That helps prevent illnesses to the entire flock. If one bird is ill, it lessens the chances of transmitting the illness to other birds.
Top 8 Best Probiotics for Chickens (Check this list)
| Picture | Product Name | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Big Ole Bird – Poultry Probiotic & Poultry Supplement | – Egg quality & quantity will be improved – Free from diseases | |
 | Big Ole Bird Poultry Probiotic Supplement | – 8 oz – Egg size will be improved – Lays more eggs – Reduce Mortality |
| Gro2Max natural probiotic formula | – 28 gal – Reasonable price – Feed cycle will be shortened | |
 | Rooster Booster Vitamins and Electrolytes with Lactobacillus | – 8 oz – With Vitamins & electrolytes – Increase egg production – Weight gain |
 | 3PK SAV-A-CHICK PROBIOTIC DIGESTIVE SUPPLEMENT | – 3-packet – Each packet for 1 gal of water |
 | Durvet Healthy Flock Poultry Probiotics | – Used for ALL poultry – Support nutrients absorption |
 | Manna Pro Poultry Grit with Probiotics | – 5 lbs – Great grit – Increases egg laying process |
| Daily Poultry Poultry Probiotic | – 5 lbs – Great grit – Increases egg-laying process |
Big Ole Bird – Poultry Probiotic & Poultry Supplement
If you are thinking of keeping poultry, it is essential you make plans on the type of food for better results. Big Ole Bird poultry probiotic has many benefits for both you and the bird. It ensures that your bird maintains a healthy weight, is free from diseases, and lays more eggs.
Unlike other supplements on the market, this is rich in humic, fulvic acids to generate organic acid formula. With this formula in your poultry’s diet, you will be smiling all the way due to the results that you will notice.
The best thing about this supplement is that it comes ready for use with all the ingredients together. Therefore, making your poultry-keeping business accessible and affordable.
The supplement has an easy-to-use formula to keep your bird healthy and productive without attracting added costs. However, it does not come with a guide to show how to give your birds.
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Big Hen Helper – Poultry Probiotic Supplement, 8 oz
Once you give your birds a particular supplement, you will naturally start to expect positive results. However, not all supplements will work in your favor. Some will either affect the egg production while others will change the weight of the bird.
That is not the case when you invest in this Big Ole Bird poultry probiotic supplement, 8oz. It touches on all the areas of your bird to ensure the result is beneficial to you as the farmer. The 8oz will make at least 24 gallons to guarantee that it will serve you for an extensive period.
The supplement helps the bird to gain weight and increases the production and size of eggs. It also helps to decrease mortality, enhance feed conversion, and improve resistance to diseases and pathogens.
The supplement is reliable and works efficiently. It is easy to use, and it is all organic. If you have issues with smell, some ingredients may have a scent that you may not like. When mixed, it produces a dark brown color that’s not attractive.
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DeWormer Natural Probiotic Formula for Poultry/Birds
The DeWormer natural probiotic formula is suitable for all types of birds. The recipe has a unique ingredient that works best in ensuring your poultry has a healthy gut microbial population regardless of how severe the weather is.
When the weather changes, it makes it difficult for birds to continue with their regular style of living, which leads to weight loss and death. With this supplement formula, that will no longer be your fear.
It enhances the egg production of your bird while increasing resistance against pathogenic microorganisms for improved healthy living. The supplement protects the poultry against weather elements and increases its production significantly.
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Rooster Booster Vitamins and Electrolytes with Lactobacillus
Take advantage of this rooster booster vitamins and electrolytes supplement and enhance your poultry’s living conditions. Vitamins play an essential role in the body. That is not different for birds. If you are looking for a formula that will help your birds and generate production, here you have it all.
The supplement will boost the immune system of your poultry to give resistance against diseases and pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, providing your bird an opportunity to concentrate on egg production and weight gain.
This supplement has naturally occurring organisms that will automatically improve the living conditions of your poultry. The supplement will work within a brief period, and the results will keep on recurring.
Vitamins and electrolyte present in the formula will enhance the immune system for resistance against diseases and weather changes. However, it will take time before you start noticing the results and the probiotics purchase is slightly high compared to other supplements.
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3pk Sav-A-Chick Probiotic Digestive Supplement for Poultry Chicken Chick Water
Three-pack Sav-a-chick digestive supplement will ensure your chickens advance in size, egg production, and general health. For every packet of this digestive supplement, you will correctly mix it with at least one gallon of poultry drinking water. If you are in the chicken-keeping business, this supplement is ideal and will guarantee results within a few uses.
Additionally, every pack has a well-balanced formula that is made explicitly for poultry. The balancing ensures that your birds receive accurate feeding for better results. The formula gives many health benefits for your chicken. It boosts the immune system and helps the bird in fighting bacteria in the digestive tract for a healthy digestive system.
This digestive supplement is affordable and convenient for farmers with several breeds. It promotes the bird’s growth and provides you with increased egg size and production. For the formula to work, you must ensure to mix it with the right amount of water.
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Durvet Healthy Flock Poultry Probiotics
Poultry is very delicate. At times they will need much care, and it is time for you to get the results you want. However, with this Durvet Healthy Flock Poultry Probiotics supplement, you will have it all. The supplement has a balanced formula that holds life-practical naturally occurring microorganisms.
The supplement is essential when it comes to improving the nutrient absorption and digestive health of your chicken. Additionally, the supplement enhances the production of eggs and increases your bird’s weight capacity.
Durvet does not limit you to using it only; therefore, you can integrate it with other supplements or even use it with them. However, unlike other supplements, Durvet is expensive and will need much monitoring to ensure that your birds produce the required results.
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Manna Pro Poultry Grit with Probiotics, 5 Lbs.
This manna pro poultry grit with probiotics is specifically designed to ensure your bird has a quality healthy lifestyle. The formula has unique features that are placed together for the benefit of the bird. Since its only administered to poultry of at least eight weeks of age, it will start preparing and enhancing egg production.
Manna has a reliable formula that guarantees your bird will have the strength to fit pathogenic and disease organisms. The product has been on the market for years now, which makes it the most reliable poultry feed supplement with a higher percentage of positive results.
This supplement will not disappoint and will ensure it saves you money as you wait to count your profit. The probiotics provide your flock with all the poultry nutrients that your birds may need for better growth and performance.
The nutrients supply in the formula will guarantee significant weight gain for your bird and an increased egg-laying process.
The product is reliable and convenient for your poultry. It also has an easy-to-use formula that will automatically give better results. However, it is not suitable for birds less than eight weeks old.
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Daily Poultry Probiotics Poultry Probiotic, 6 Lb.
Give your farming a different experience by investing in this UltraCruz poultry probiotic, 10 lb. The formula is genetically placed together for the benefit of the chickens. The probiotics and prebiotics for chickens offer a comprehensive digestive advantage for your birds.
When your poultry is changing diet or going through stress, it is difficult for the bird to concentrate on digesting or even feeding correctly. Therefore, with the help of the supplement, which mixes well in drinking water, your bird will regain its feeding routine for natural weight gain and increased egg production.
UltraCruz poultry probiotic plus supplies are individually for poultry. It ensures that your bird has proper digestion regardless of the condition it is living in.
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Can We Take Prebiotics and Probiotics Together?
While probiotics are naturally occurring bacteria, prebiotics is made up of carbohydrates that the body cannot digest. Prebiotics are usually food for the probiotics. The use of these two is called microbiome therapy. While you do not need to give both to your birds, combined they make your probiotics more effective.
Prebiotics do not hold any bacteria. Their primary function is to ensure that the good bacteria in the digestive system grow. They usually have dietary fiber which is a source of food for the probiotics.
A study conducted in 2012 found that combining both probiotics and prebiotics is a great way to curb irritable bowel movement, allergic reactions, and diarrhea. Therefore, while it is not necessary to administer the two together, these two should be a part of your bird’s diet.
You also need to be aware of the side effects that will be experienced at first if you choose to use these two together. These side effects include gas, loose stool, constipation, and loss of appetite.
However, as the birds continue taking them, these will subside, and the bird will carry on experiencing the benefits of both. You will, in turn, notice better egg production.
Probiotics Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are all probiotics the same concerning their benefits?
A: No. The health benefits of the probiotics you introduce to your chicks will vary significantly depending on their genus, species, and strain. Different strains of probiotics have various health benefits. Therefore, when choosing probiotics for your chicken, assess the condition you want them to treat and select strains that have been scientifically proven to treat that condition.
Q: Can you give them human probiotics?
A: Probiotics are often species-specific. The digestive bacterium in chicken is not like the bacteria found in human beings. While some people give their hens yogurt, it is not highly favored. It may not cause any harm, but it is essential to ensure that you get the right probiotics for your chicken.
Q: What foods can I give the chickens to increase their probiotics?
A: If you want to give your hens foods that have probiotics too, you may need to provide foods that have high probiotic content. Such foods include cultured vegetables. If you cook your meals with garlic, you may offer to your chickens the remains of the food. Unpasteurized apple cider vinegar is also a great way to introduce probiotics naturally to your chicks.
Q: How to make fermented chicken grains increase their probiotics?
A: Making fermented grain for your chickens is easy. Put your grains in a glass container, add some water and cover, and keep it at room temperature. Keep stirring each day and let it sit.
When it starts producing a sour smell you can feed it to your chickens. Feed the liquid to them as it has probiotics that they will need.
Q: Should give probiotics only when the chicks are sick?
A: No. To ensure that you get the most from your probiotics, you must make sure that they have them regularly. While they may be helpful when the chickens are sick, they will work better if the chicken already had the probiotics in their systems before time.
Conclusion
Probiotics are recommended and safe for chicks to use. You will not have to wait for a particular time to feed it to your hens either. The best part is that you can mix them with either water or the food your chicks consume for excellent results.
Reducing salmonella is just one part of the many benefits you will gain. You may also choose to use prebiotics to increase and smoothen the work of probiotics.
The information in this article should help you know when, how, and why you should administer probiotics to your chickens.
The probiotics review allows you to know which probiotics the best on the market is. Now that you know which are the best probiotics for your chickens, the journey to healthier chicks and eggs is better.
Feel free to add your comments, as questions and leave your views on the information posted. Do not forget to share the tips with your friends and family.
