Apple cider vinegar....why can't you use it in metal waterer

[Chicken_Hubster]

Subjet.

 

[havi]

The acidity in the vinegar will eat away at the metal.

 

[chickenlittle32]

If I am correct....the vinegar will make it rust....

 

[Chicken_Hubster]

ahh, and what are the direct health benefits of the acv?

 

[incubatingisfun]

i thought it poisned them

 

[DaveD]

It will desolve some of the zinc and poison the birds.

Benefits (if not in a metal waterer):
The acidity prevents growth of fungi (think green water) - My wife uses vinegar to clean
According to "Storey's guide to raising Chickens", it increase the good microflora and reduces the disease-causing microbes in the crop, since the good stuff likes it a little acidic and the bad stuff doesn't
Used to fix sour crop - read above
The birds love it, so they will drink more - prevention of dehydration

 

[Why and Dotte]

I had never thought of the effects of ACV on metal, thank you for posting this! I also never knew about giving it to chickens, it's such a handy product. About to steal your thread for a sec. I know with horses it supposedly keeps flies away if they drink enough, has anyone heard about this in chickens?

 

[calicokat]

Well Lord love an Irish duck! Now I know why my waterer looked like crud after only one summer's use

I packed it away in the barn as a "last resort spare" and happened to buy plastic ones to replace it - sheesh! The stuff you learn on here really is amazing

thanks fellow chick lovers!

 

[JustTom]

Quote:
Vinegar in a galvanized waterer leeches the zinc, which is poisonous to your birds. Best to use plastic.

ACV is good for the gutload flora and to fix sour crop.

In rabbits, does same thing, and anecdotal evidence suggests that it helps produce more females if given before conception. Even if it isn't true, the gut flora benefits coupled with the facts that it lessons urine smell makes it worthwhile to keep on hand.


hth,
tom

 

[zDoc]

What about that little bit of metal in the chicken nipple. That should be OK don't ya think?

It's not galvanized right?