Apple cider vinegar?

[Chook-A-Holic]

I also give mine 1tbsp per gallon. It also keeps the nasties from growing in the waterer. I've noticed that if I add anymore than that, they only consume about half as much as normal which definitely isn't good for them.

 

[Akane]

Most of the year having them not drink as much is not a death sentence here so you have plenty of time to adjust the level back down. Used properly though acv has greater odds of increasing the amount of water consumed than decreasing it so long as you don't go overboard with it and you give them time to adjust. Animals actually like the flavor in small amounts and it covers up other flavors. If you travel to shows with your animals they sometimes won't drink the strange water. Rather than hauling water along with you can just grab a container of acv. Add it to the water and it tastes nearly the same as home. Otherwise I know some people that have huge 40gallon tanks they haul along for their horses and they still run out sometimes and risk dehydrated horses. It kills algae and bugs in the water tanks keeping them cleaner. Otherwise our water has a tendency to grown brown algae (diatoms) which will reach huge columns within weeks. Gross stuff. Much easier to dump in acv than scrub many large tanks weekly and still fall behind on the stuff. It will also deter mosquitos and water beetles from living in stock tanks. Again animals actually like the flavor once they are used to it. It helped prevent dehydration in one horse I had. Due to a metabolic issue he overheated easily in summer so we filled all water buckets or stock tanks with electrolytes and acv so he'd be more tempted to drink. If we didn't put in both he wouldn't drink as much and end up foundering again from the heat. ACV has plenty of technical benefits even if you ignore the fact it contains so many useful vitamins and minerals, can aid digestion, and is a natural dewormer.

 

[chookchick]

Thanks for the detailed information, I'm going to have to research ACV more. Even though I still don't like it...

 

[lilapot]

I use about one tablespoon per gallon, to kill any germs in the water. I will also, for a bit of variety, use baking soda, or even honey.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I keep hearing the cider vinegar has to be organic. That's not true. What is beneficial is for it to have the mother, ie unfiltered and unpaturized. Being organic or not means nothing.

Had to check the cupboard first. Yup, Hienz makes one unfiltered with the Mother. Non organic. Don't get me wrong, Bragg's is not overpriced but ya know some are when organic.

 

[caboodleschicks]

I put 1Tbsp of apple cider vinegar in one gallon of water. It works for my 6 chickens.

Signed,
http://www.bootsandchickenpoop.wix.com/mysite

 

[bk15]

Give ur chickens options people!!!! Set 2 waters out one with ACV and one with just plain water let the chickens pick what they feel like they want!!! Don't force it on them!! A chicken will know what it wants or doesn't want and tend to better when you people give them options to choose from!!

Sorry if sounds like Iam ranting

but that's my view on forcing chickens to eat or drink something with letting them pick and decide what they think they need!!