Vinegar in water

Pendragonz said:

You can definitely use vinegar to keep down the algae growth. I would use apple cider vinegar though for the health benefits to the birds. I'm now sure how healthy regular distilled vinegar is. Get a bottle of ACV with the mother still in it, and use 2Tsp. It keeps down the algae, and has health benefits to the birds.

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Pendragonz said:

By 1 gallon waterer I was assuming you meant plastic. Is that correct? You should not use vinegar in the metal waterers, it can leach toxins out of the metal. That would not be good for your chickens. Also, you cannot feed fermented feed from a metal feeder for the same reason. I feed the fermented feed and feed them from a vinyl rain gutter feeder. Just FYI.

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jenxsawyer said:

Is there too young a bird to use ACV with? My chicks are almost 5 weeks and I would love to do this as well! 

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romita said:

I was literally just reading about vinegar in The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow (fyi).  She recommends adding 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar to each gallon of water and 2 tablespoons if you have hard water.  She also says not to use vinegar if you have a hen suffering from heat stress --- don't know where you are, but we're having a heat wave... I guess the vinegar causes the birds to drink more (and then consequently to eat more). 

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cc chickens said:

that's a good question, I have some that are 2 1/2 weeks old.

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jenxsawyer said:

Is there too young a bird to use ACV with? My chicks are almost 5 weeks and I would love to do this as well!

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