Why do you guys give your chickens apple cider vinegar?

[ak rain]

Just FYI
As I have gone to metal water, planning for base heater to keep from freezing in winter, I can't use ACV there. I do plan to use fermented feed which has ACV starter. I hope that helps. Just another path that I've been reading about.
Ak rain

 

[Hypertay]

The Walmarts in my area now carry Heinz ACV with the mother in it. If you haven't been able to find it in yours, try communicating with the manager.

 

[Leese]

Research I found:http://www.scratchandpeck.com/faqs#bad


What is the value of using Apple Cider Vinegar?

A. Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) has long been hailed for it’s human health benefits and it can do wonders for your chickens too. It is made from nutritious organically grown apples and retains many of the fruits’ beneficial components because it is not pasteurized. The fermentation process produces enzymes and life giving nutrients that make ACV a powerhouse for you and your chickens! It is best to use raw apple cider vinegar containing “the mother” which makes the vinegar so beneficial. The “mother” is made up living nutrients and bacteria. You can see it settled in the bottom of the bottle like sediment which occurs naturally as strand-like enzymes of connected protein molecules.
Using apple cider vinegar in various ways around your flock and coop can do the following:
• Improve the digestive health of your chickens by maintaining proper pH balance in the digestive tract
• May increase egg production
• Kill germs that cause respiratory illnesses among chickens
• Keep your chickens’ water free of harmful bacteria
• Eliminate mold, mildew, dust, and odors from your chicken coop
• Disinfect your chicken coop and your chickens’ feeding and watering system
• Repel flies and ants
• Act as an abrasive for difficult-to-clean surfaces such as brooders, window panes, and cages.
Giving your chickens apple cider vinegar directly
Adding apple cider vinegar directly to your chickens’ drinking water can help to maintain digestive health by lowering the pH in their stomach. It can also act as an antiseptic, killing any harmful mucus or bacteria in the throat that can cause respiratory ailments. Some folks report that feeding chickens apple cider vinegar increases egg production.
To add apple cider vinegar to your chickens’ water use organic, raw, unfiltered, and unpasteurized vinegar, such as Bragg’s. Use four teaspoons of apple cider vinegar for each gallon of water. CAUTION: Never add ACV to a galvanized metal waterer as it will poison your chickens. Always use plastic!
Using apple cider vinegar to clean your chicken coop, feeders, and waterers
You can use apple cider vinegar to clean your chicken coop walls, floors, roof, windows, feeder, and waterer. Just add a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a spray bottle filled with water. The raw, unfiltered, and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar is always best, but for cleaning purposes, any type of apple cider vinegar will work.
To clean with apple cider vinegar, just spray any dirty surface with your solution and wipe clean with a rag or towel. Frequent cleaning with apple cider vinegar will disinfect any surface and prevent mold, mildew, dust, and unpleasant odors from building up in your coop. Many homesteaders report that cleaning the chickens’ area with apple cider vinegar prevents flies and ants from congregating around chickens as well.
Using apple cider vinegar as an abrasive cleaner
Apple cider vinegar makes a great abrasive cleaner for areas like cages, cracks, and brooders that may get particularly dirty but are difficult to clean effectively. Mixing apple cider vinegar with coarse sea salt will help to safely rub off any build-up on dirty surfaces.
Or try mixing baking soda with a small amount of water to scrub surfaces thoroughly and then spray with an apple cider vinegar solution to disinfect.

 

[jennerb]

I'm brand new to this and have zero chicken experience. So, here is my 2 day observation with apple cider vinegar thus far: 2 Tbls in 2 gallons from the beginning in a plastic bucket with the red plastic water nipples(awesome by the way!!) chicks went right to the water on arrival. They have been perfectly happy, good energy, normal chicken poop, good appetites, wings are starting to feather..... except I can honestly say, there is absolutely no smell coming from the brooder. I think the acv is a great option

 

[pigeonman]

I use apple cider vinegar in the water for my pigeons,chickens and goats and have for along
time, it has several benefits in keeping healthy pets.I give a half teaspoon to a gallon of
water to pigeons and chickens and about half a cup to the 16 gal.water bucket for goats
twice a month.

 

[pigeonman]

I read in your post #164 that you use the water nipples are they easy to install
and what size drill bit is needed I'm thinking I will try them for my month old chicks
thanks

 

[jennerb]

5/16th drill bit. Super e-asy just dont screw them in upside down like I did the first time I used both a 2 gallon bucket which and a bottle cap one on a heavy plastic orange juice container. I would recommend the white plumbers tape or silicone for the extra seal effect. Good Luck!

 

[pigeonman]

thanks for your reply on the water nipple drill bit size also who did you get the nipples from? no one local have them

 

[cosmo1104]

I just bought 5 of them for about $7 with shipping on ebay. Amazon also has them for 5 for 10 shipped I think. THEY ARE AWESOME. no more dirty water/spilled water/dealing with water on a daily basis. I have a 2G jug for my 6 chickens and the floor stays dry and I only have to refill it every 3 days or so. So much less mess and STINK. This is a no brainer in my opinion. The chickens natural curiosity got them using it within about 10 minutes. Once one figured it out, they all did. And I used a 5/16th bit and a bit off water potable silicon to seal it in, although I doubt it was necessary.

And I add some raw vinegar to it.

I also started making my own, its really stupid easy to do. Just google it, its really really really easy. and cheap.

 

[pigeonman]

thanks once again I will order monday 5 is all i need