Why You Need Probiotics and Prebiotics for Your Chickens!

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A great way to keep your chickens healthy is by supplementing probiotics and/or prebiotics in their diet.

Probiotics and Prebiotics have become incredibly popular in recent years as we are beginning to crack down on the overuse of antibiotics. They are a great additive to feed your chicken for a variety of reasons

 

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What are Probiotics & Prebiotics?

So, what exactly are Probiotics and Prebiotics?

A Probiotic is a good, live bacteria that can be fed to chickens. The probiotic creates a colonize exclusion (CE). This is when the probiotic bacteria restrict bad bacteria from colonizing the gut by having a greater population.

 A prebiotic is something that is fed to chickens that help feed the existing good bacteria in the gut. This helps feed and nourish existing good bacteria to grow more or with probiotic additives to also create a CE effect.

How do Probiotics and Prebiotics help your chickens?

By nourishing the gut microbiome, Probiotics have been shown to improve digestion, strengthen immunity, add a barrier to impending bacteria and even increase egg production1.
Prebiotics have been shown to improve mineral absorption and enhance immune functions

Above is a diagram that (in a very complex way) illustrates the relationship between the gut microbiome and brain stress response. Supporting a healthy gut provides your chicken a longer and happier life.  

What is the gut microbiota?

To understand how probiotics and prebiotics help your chickens, understanding the microbiota is key. The current study interest in microbiota has increased in recent years as we learn that it plays a key role in the immune response.

The microbiota is made up of bacteria, fungi, archaea and viruses. These all play a key role in the homeostasis (balance) of the immune system2. Gut bacteria help educate the immune cells to fight off pathogens that enter the stomach.

What are some Natural sources?

 The two main Probiotics are:

  • Lactobacillus
  • Bifidobacterium

Some of the natural sources that you can feed your chickens is

  • Sour kraut
  • Yogurt
  • Pickles

The only two accepted prebiotics are

  • Fructo-oligosaccharide
  • Galacto-oligosaccharide

Some of the natural forms of prebiotics available are

  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Bananas

What are some commercial sources available?

If preparing these natural prebiotics/probiotics just won’t work for your schedule there are some great products available that can have the same great affects!

Healthy Gut ™ Probiotics for Poultry provides 9 different types of probiotics and no less than 10 billion CFU (Colony Forming Units) it also contains a prebiotic. This product has shown great reviews for small flock owners when they have been dealing with digestive upsets in their chickens!

Footnotes

  1. Jha R, Das R, Oak S, Mishra P. Probiotics (Direct-Fed Microbials) in Poultry Nutrition and Their Effects on Nutrient Utilization, Growth and Laying Performance, and Gut Health: A Systematic Review. Animals (Basel). 2020 Oct 13;10(10):1863. doi: 10.3390/ani10101863. PMID: 33066185; PMCID: PMC7602066.
  2. Wu HJ, Wu E. The role of gut microbiota in immune homeostasis and autoimmunity. Gut Microbes. 2012 Jan-Feb;3(1):4-14. doi: 10.4161/gmic.19320. Epub 2012 Jan 1. PMID: 22356853; PMCID: PMC333712.
  3. Wickramasuriya, S.S.; Park, I.; Lee, K.; Lee, Y.; Kim, W.H.; Nam, H.; Lillehoj, H.S. Role of Physiology, Immunity, Microbiota, and Infectious Diseases in the Gut Health of Poultry. Vaccines 2022, 10, 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10020172