If you’re looking for a powerful and effective natural remedy for getting rid of chicken mites - a lot of backyard chicken owners swear by using garlic juice for chicken mites.
Garlic is quite the special vegetable for use with backyard chickens. It has more utility than just as a remedy for mites too as I’ll explain in this article.
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Using Garlic Juice for Chicken Mites: How Effective Is It?
There is no doubt that garlic juice is effective at killing chicken mites. Not only is there plenty of anecdotal evidence from happy backyard poultry owners, but there have been some studies carried out.
This particular study was carried out on a flock infested with Northern Fowl Mites using a 10% garlic juice solution.
The scientists carrying out the tests noted, “significantly fewer NFM” on the hens treated with the garlic juice than another test flock not being treated.
So, if you’re on the fence or have any concerns about using or feeding garlic to your chickens, you shouldn’t have. It’s perfectly fine to do so and has a lot of benefits.
How to Make Garlic Juice for Chicken Mites
As long as you don’t mind the smell of garlic, it couldn’t be any easier to make and use garlic juice with your chickens.
To make garlic juice, all you need to do is:
- Take a bulb of garlic and flatten the cloves (most people press the cloves with the flat side of a knife)
- Bring some water to the boil and add the garlic cloves
- After a few minutes, use a potato masher to mash the cloves now they’re softer
- Allow the garlic to boil for a few more minutes
- Remove your garlic mixture from the boil and allow it to cool
- Add 5 parts water to 1 part of your garlic juice to a spray bottle for your garlic juice
Most people add a teaspoon of nice spelling essential oil to take the edge off the garlic smell and add to the pest-resistant properties.
Lavender, mint, and lemongrass are all known to help repel parasites and other pests. These all smell great and will help boost the power of your mixture.
I have also seen a lot of people adding just a drop of dish soap, but I haven’t done that myself.
Related - Learn more about using Neem oil to kill chicken mites here.
How to Treat Mites With Garlic Juice
With your garlic juice in a spray bottle, you can now spray the mixture directly onto your chickens, and around their coop.
It’s easiest with two people. You need one person to hold each chicken, lift their wings, spread their features, and help you get to the spots where you can see a concentration of mites.
Don’t overdo it. You don’t want to soak your poor chickens in garlic! It’s more effective to use several lighter treatments to ensure it’s taking effect on the mites and killing their eggs.
While you’re in their coop, spray the mixture all around too. There are some species of mites, such as red mites - also called roost mites - that live in small cracks in wood paneling and bedding.
These mites come out at night and feed off of chicken’s blood. Making them a lot harder to kill in the day by spraying a chicken.
Other Benefits of Garlic for Chickens
Using garlic juice to get rid of mites isn’t the only benefit garlic has for chickens. Some of the other uses for this ‘miracle’ vegetable are:
Boosting Egg Production
There have been various studies into the use of garlic powder as a food supplement to improve laying hens’ egg production. It’s been proven to help hen’s lay larger eggs, and there is also evidence to show it can improve the nutritional content of eggs.
Strengthening the Immune System
Garlic boosts our immune systems and helps kill viruses and microorganisms, and it does the same for chickens too. Whether your flock looks like they need a little health kick or not, it doesn’t hurt to add some garlic into their diet.
Stimulating Appetite
This is one of the benefits of garlic that can really help out. If your chickens aren’t eating well, it may be because they are feeling off, being annoyed by parasites, or a number of other reasons.
Garlic is known to stimulate their appetite. Which in turn, will also ensure they are benefiting from all of the health benefits of eating garlic I’ve covered.
Related - How to get rid of chicken lice on humans.
Other Ways to Give Your Chickens Garlic
You don’t have to make a juice from fresh garlic, this just happens to be the easiest way to treat mites as it enables you to spray the mixture around.
You can also:
Add it to their water - Simply use some form of liquid garlic supplement or crush up a clove and add it to your chickens' drinking water. One clove per every 4 gallons should be fine.
In with their feed - If you want chickens to eat something, just put it in with their feed or mix it with a treat. Simply crush up a clove or use a powder if you want convenience.
As an oil - Garlic-infused oil is great for rubbing on chicken’s legs to treat scaly leg mites or into their skin for minor cuts and abrasions.
In Summary
I hope you’re going to pick up some garlic next time you’re at the store now aware of the powerful health benefits it holds for chickens.
It’s commonly used to kill all kinds of mites around the yard and on animals, and it’s very effective at treating chicken mites.
But the applications and uses for poultry extend past just treating mites. Love it or hate it yourself, garlic is one of the superfoods for chooks!
