Effects of Dietary Wild Thyme Alone or Combined with Probiotic or Prebiotic Supplementation on Growth Performance, Immune Response, Oxidative Status, and Intestinal Health in Broiler Chickens

Abstract

Simple Summary As the commercial poultry industry transitions away from antibiotic growth promoters, farm managers and breeding practitioners need reliable, natural feeding strategies that maintain flock growth, feed efficiency, and intestinal robustness. This study examined whether blending wild thyme powder with standard prebiotics or probiotics could replace conventional antibiotics in broiler diets over a 28-day grow-out period. Our findings show that adding thyme powder, especially when paired with a spore-forming prebiotic, significantly increases final bird weight and improves overall feed conversion efficiency to levels that match or exceed antibiotic treatment. At the tissue level, these natural combinations act as a dual protective shield: thyme and beneficial microbes strengthen the intestinal lining, promote friendly gut bacteria, and enhance nutrient absorption. For poultry producers, combining thyme powder (1.0 g/kg) with a probiotic (0.50 g/kg) offers a viable, cost-effective, non-antibiotic strategy to optimize flock productivity, safeguard gut health, and reduce production losses in modern antibiotic-free broiler operations.