Apple cider vinegar, anyone?

[coach723]

Myths die hard, eh?

Yes! This one and DE just never seem to lose traction.

 

[Devorah]

Giving your birds apple cider vinegar daily is not going to do a thing for them.
And it can actually hurt laying birds because it inhibits the absorption of calcium.

Curious about the basis for this. Are you speaking solely about full grown layers or chicks as well? Thanks!!

 

[coach723]

The benefits of ACV are debatable. I personally have never seen any benefit of it. If too much ACV is taken in it could impact calcium absorption, and some birds may be more affected than others. Like just about anything, too much of anything can be bad. Just like humans, every one of them is a bit different with a different immune system. Depending on your water source, alkalinity or acidity, hardness, affects could be different. It also should not be used with metal containers. Used appropriately, it probably won't do any harm, whether it does any good.......I simple haven't seen it. I use it for cleaning. This article covers pretty much the entire subject:
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/apple-cider-vinegar-and-chickens/

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I use it in the summer to keep my waterers from growing algae which seems to happen fairly quickly so a dash of acv helps give me a couple extra days between cleaning the waterers. I supposed regular vingegar would do the same. Or cleaning the waterers more often haha

 

[Devorah]

The benefits of ACV are debatable. I personally have never seen any benefit of it. If too much ACV is taken in it could impact calcium absorption, and some birds may be more affected than others. Like just about anything, too much of anything can be bad. Just like humans, every one of them is a bit different with a different immune system. Depending on your water source, alkalinity or acidity, hardness, affects could be different. It also should not be used with metal containers. Used appropriately, it probably won't do any harm, whether it does any good.......I simple haven't seen it. I use it for cleaning. This article covers pretty much the entire subject:
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/apple-cider-vinegar-and-chickens/

Thanks. Good article. I would say small amounts may be beneficial, but that depends on numerous factors. It’s like with probiotics. No hard studies or data. Some folks swear by them, others don’t.

 

[Prop toe]

Put it in my soaked oats barrel a quart to 50 lbs of whole oats approx 35 gals of water strained oats feed 3/4 yard mixed which consist of laying pellets pigeon feed black oil sunflower whole corn scratch grain catfish floater feed and mixed it by calculation 18 percent protein mixed 1/4 strained soaked oats with a teaspoon of red cell horse vitamin supplement.Keep in mind I raised gamefowl .Yes exspensive but real clean feed minimum dust in feed kept in cool dry place .I hatched approx .850 offspring every year.Cheers

 

[AGeese]

Put it in my soaked oats barrel a quart to 50 lbs of whole oats approx 35 gals of water strained oats feed 3/4 yard mixed which consist of laying pellets pigeon feed black oil sunflower whole corn scratch grain catfish floater feed and mixed it by calculation 18 percent protein mixed 1/4 strained soaked oats with a teaspoon of red cell horse vitamin supplement.Keep in mind I raised gamefowl .Yes exspensive but real clean feed minimum dust in feed kept in cool dry place .I hatched approx .850 offspring every year.Cheers

Better than bleach

 

[Prop toe]

I used a bit of acidified copper sulfate in waters to prevent algae growth

 

[The Meadow]

I learned about ACV the first year I had chickens (4 years ago) and have given my girls ACV ever since.
I haven’t had any girls get sick until this year. She was lethargic and stayed in the coop during the day (her choice) for a couple of days. That was about a week ago. Yesterday she was back to about 75%.
I have 2 of the chick waterers that I use for the ACV water mix. I fill them every evening. If I see they both have about half, I’ll usually pour those in one & put fresh in the other. I only allow the older batch one day. I’d rather have them have fresh.
My girls love the refills - they flock to them every night when I put them back in their coop. Also, when I have one that’s maybe a quarter full, I’ll dump that on the ground & they love that.
I recommend it to everyone I talk to and let them know I feel it keeps them healthier.

I've been reading a great resource called The Chicken Health Handbook. It explains the science behind using ACV. Our water is naturally alkaline - and our hens benefit from the boost in acidity for their crops from ACV. Disease causing bacteria like alkaline pH levels. ACV helps to discourage their growth both in the crop and in our drinking water. HOWEVER this resource also explains that in HOT weather it is NOT advisable to use ACV. As panting chickens give off lots of CO2 which is taken from their systems bicarbonate stores. ACV doesn't help replenish that. So instead at these times it suggests adding baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to help replenish the body's stores. Then the kidneys will kick in and balance the pH of the blood. 1/4 cup per gallon of baking soda does the trick.