Apple cider vinager?!

[Semper]

So I've read many different things abo ACV saying it's the best! And others saying never use it? I was wondering what everyone thought and opinions are about it.

I've read it helps with the hen and her digestive stuff and also with bugs? But the stuff I've read about never use it I couldn't really find anything but their opinions about it.

Is it good? Bad? Use it? Don't use it? Does it help? Does it harm the chickens?

 

[pdirt]

I know for humans the most basic premise of ACV for health internally is it helps as a digestive tonic. I don't recall exactly how that works, but the info is out there. I do notice my digestion has felt much better in recent years, the years that I started including more sour foods into my diet. Most are fermented and have probiotic benefits, except for ACV doesn't have probiotics.

As far as magical claims of ACV, I'm not sure about those. But I do think of it as a general health tonic.

For our chickens, I mix 1tbs ACV per gallon of water. I also always give them plain water, so they have the choice between ACV and plain.

If you have access to lots of,scrap apples and a press, it's easy and cheap to make your own.

 

[glib]

agree with pdirt but ACV does have some probiotics. I make sure I have as many as possible by fermenting my ACV in air-locked containers. acetobacter thrives in oxygen rich environments but lactic bacteria (the best ones) thrive in anaerobic conditions.

But the real benefit of ACV are (for humans) its bio-film busting qualities. Much disease is simply bad bacteria taking residence in the gut and forming a bio-film. Once inside, they are 100-1000 times more resistant to antibiotics. ACV works by destroying the polysaccharide-ion matrix that forms the film, by extracting the Ca++ and Mg++ ions that hold together the film. It works in humans and animals by preventing the establishment of noxious films. Plus, of course, it sterilizes drinking water and is nearly mandatory for rabbits for example.

 

[pdirt]

agree with pdirt but ACV does have some probiotics. I make sure I have as many as possible by fermenting my ACV in air-locked containers. acetobacter thrives in oxygen rich environments but lactic bacteria (the best ones) thrive in anaerobic conditions.

But the real benefit of ACV are (for humans) its bio-film busting qualities. Much disease is simply bad bacteria taking residence in the gut and forming a bio-film. Once inside, they are 100-1000 times more resistant to antibiotics. ACV works by destroying the polysaccharide-ion matrix that forms the film, by extracting the Ca++ and Mg++ ions that hold together the film. It works in humans and animals by preventing the establishment of noxious films. Plus, of course, it sterilizes drinking water and is nearly mandatory for rabbits for example.

Well, I have to say I may finally stand corrected! I have never before considered nor heard acetobacter as a probiotic. I had only considered the lactobacillus group and some others like bacillus subtilis as probiotic. I had always thought that the vinegar produced by acetobacter as having digestive benefits, but the acetobacter itself did not really do anything inside the gut, like lactobacillus and b. subtilis do. Is this true then...that acetobacter itself is helpful inside the gut?

How exactly does it sterlize drinking water? I guess it would depend on how strong of a concentration of ACV you would put into water. But if you intentionally contaminated water with say E. coli, would a mild dilution of ACV make it safely drinkable? And sterilize is a strong word...it means no microbial life left (or an extremely low,level).

 

[glib]

Well, I have to say I may finally stand corrected! I have never before considered nor heard acetobacter as a probiotic. I had only considered the lactobacillus group and some others like bacillus subtilis as probiotic. I had always thought that the vinegar produced by acetobacter as having digestive benefits, but the acetobacter itself did not really do anything inside the gut, like lactobacillus and b. subtilis do. Is this true then...that acetobacter itself is helpful inside the gut?

How exactly does it sterlize drinking water? I guess it would depend on how strong of a concentration of ACV you would put into water. But if you intentionally contaminated water with say E. coli, would a mild dilution of ACV make it safely drinkable? And sterilize is a strong word...it means no microbial life left (or an extremely low,level).

I did not say acetobacter is a probiotic. I only said that even vinegar has some lactic bacteria.

 

[DigMyChicks]

I've been using apple cider vinegar (with the mother) since my chicks were new. They are now almost 10 and 13 weeks old. I read somewhere it helped prevent worms...I figured it can't hurt them.

 

[Semper]

I've been using apple cider vinegar (with the mother) since my chicks were new.  They are now almost 10 and 13 weeks old.  I read somewhere it helped prevent worms...I figured it can't hurt them.

That's what I read plus it helps with other stuff I started giving it to my chicks who are about two months old thinking it couldn't hurt but I've read that it also could be bad but seemed like it was their opinion and not facts

 

[Nikuchan]

So how much ACV to water?

 

[We-love-chickens]

So how much ACV to water?

Did you ever find out how much ACV to water?

 

[Cchurchill91]

I started to give ACV when one of my chicks was sick and continued using it since. I just put in about a spoon full in the large mason jar. The chick was 100% better in two days and all are healthy 9 week olds now. Not sure if it’s thanks to the ACV but I’ve read lots of good things.