Sea Kelp | Natural Antibiotic for Chickens?
Seaweed, algae, kelp...whatever you call it, it's that green slimy stuff floating in the ocean that washes up on the beach, dries out and smells.
But recent studies point to it possibly working as a natural antibiotic for livestock and poultry, as well as improving growth and lay rates, egg quality and also providing a natural source of protein and Omega-3s.
First though, it's important to point out the difference between seaweed and sea kelp. Sea kelp is actually a subtype of seaweed. An algae, it's classified as a brown algae, and grows in cool water oceans.
Packed with nutrition and essential vitamins and minerals, kelp is used as a thickener in products from toothpaste to ice cream and of course featured in lots of Asian cuisine.
But did you know that sea kelp is really beneficial to chickens as well? Kelp contains Vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K, as well as calcium, iron, niacin, and Omega-3s.
It helps with feather quality and will lead to nice, bright orange egg yolks. It also acts as a prebiotic, which is the foundation for probiotics to work better.
Sea Kelp | Natural Antibiotic for Chickens?
Even more exciting, sea kelp has recently been studied for its ability to act as a natural antibiotic for poultry!
So far nothing conclusive has been published, at least to my knowledge, but the report cited below from Poultry World states that "results look promising" for sea kelp's ability to strengthen the immune system and protect mucous membranes from pathogens.
This in turn would increase resistance to infection and illness and reduce the need for commercial antibiotics on farms.
The timing of this news couldn't be better. I just launched a new line of all natural feed supplements - and kelp is one of the products in the line!
Coop Kelp is 100% organic and sourced from the waters off Norway. I add it to my chicken and duck feed every day and now you can too! Currently available from Chewy.com Amazon.com and select retailers.
I tend to believe in natural preventives and remedies anyway, and even if sea kelp isn't ultimately proven to work as an antibiotic, it will still provide you with a flock of chickens with gorgeous feathers who lay eggs with beautiful rich-colored yolks!
Fresh Eggs Daily Natural Poultry Feed Supplements
