Tea Tree Oil Toxicity In Chickens

Many of us are increasingly incorporating natural herbal and plant therapies into our arsenal of first aid and health care remedies. There is lots of historical and science-based research to support the efficacy of thousands of species as treatments for a wide range of issues. Indeed, 40% of pharmaceutical drugs in Western countries are derived from plants that people have used for centuries.

One such product, tea tree oil, has increased in popularity. The essential oil is extracted from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifoliaa, a tree native to Australia that is now grown in other regions including the southern USA. The clear to pale yellow oil has a camphor-like smell, is an antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflamatory. It can be found in many household products like body lotions, shampoos, conditioners, balms, toothpaste, and insect repellants. Indeed, you could find it in my own medicine cabinet.

As plant therapy becomes more common practice for treating people, we are also seeing increased use for pets. In some veterinary practices, tea tree oil has been marketed for use on dogs, cats and horses to treat external parasites. Though appropriate dilutions of tea tree oil can be used, it is extremely important to be aware that due to toxicity, 100% tea tree oil should never be used on an animal.

Various kinds of toxicity are relatively common in pet birds and a number of cases are reported in literature, concerning heavy metals intoxication and toxic plant ingestion. Tea tree oil poisoning has been reported in humans as well as in dogs, cats and rats. There is very little research undertaken on tea tree oil use on avian species. Anecdotally there is evidence that it can be toxic to exotic birds and by extension, poultry.

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I did come across a case of accidental poisoning of a young cockerel when his owner, Jason-Weedon Fitzwater, was attempting to use tea tree oil topically for a skin issue.

Here is the account of that experience:

This is my 4-month-old rooster, photographed 24 hours ago. He ingested tea tree oil about 48 hours ago. I was dropping the oil on his face and he turned his head with his beak open and it accidentally got in his mouth. For the few four hours he was unaffected but by the next morning he was ataxic or slightly paralyzed. He now can’t move on his own; he can move his head, but not his neck. There is limited mobility of his wings, but he can’t stand or walk.

I know it’s too late at this point to counteract the poison with charcoal. I didn’t really understand how deadly tea tree oil really is, even applied topically.

He can eat on his own, but I have to hold his neck and the bowl. I have been giving him Starter feed soaked with Sav-A-Chick water. It’s so hard to find anything about toxicity in chickens.

Day 3: He is still maintaining at this point. His head is functioning, and he can eat but his neck is still floppy, so I have to help him. I pinched a toe on each foot and he had a reflex response so I definitely think he can feel them. I’ve been giving him only Sav-A-Chick and Poultry Cell (vitamins) in his water, including the water I wet the food with. I’m going to hold out for another week and see where we are then.

I kept in touch with the owner and two weeks later, with no real improvement, he made the decision to euthanize his cockerel.

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Symptoms Of Toxicity 

• extremely low body temperature
• weakness
• decreased heart rate
• difficulty walking
• tremors
• skin irritation
• liver and kidney damage
• coma
• death

Clinical signs may be seen within 1- 8 hours of application.

Treatment: Tea tree oil toxicity in small mammals is dealt with by bathing the patient to remove any traces of oil on the skin; administering activated charcoal and fluids, including IV fluids; and keeping the patient warm. Some of those remedies are not practical in chickens but you can certainly administer an internal flush using activated charcoal and bathe if the oil was given topically.

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Credits: American College Of Veterinary Pharmacists; BMC Veterinary Research; Jason-Weedon Fitzwater.