Drinking water

[Merra]

Ok so our chicks are 1 week today, they came from Myers hatchery and I ordered them the vital pack. I'm just wondering how long they need to be on this for? The vital pack is vitamins and electrolytes... if I take them off that, do I need to mix ACV with their water from here on out or do I just give them plain H2O? Help please. Thank You in advance

P.S I want my birds all natural

 

[sourland]

If it were me, I would continue with the vital pack until it was all used up. ACV is not absolutely necessary, but it will cause no harm, and may help with gut flora.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I love my Meyer hatchery chickens!!! I put all my new ones on nutri-drench for a good week or so. Like stated above, finish up your vitamin pack before stopping it completely. I also really like hydro-hen as an everyday water supplement. Good luck with your new babies!!!

 

[Merra]

Only have 8 birds and the vital pack is soooooo big... it will last them forever... so just keep them on it, it wont cause any harm?

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Only have 8 birds and the vital pack is soooooo big... it will last them forever... so just keep them on it, it wont cause any harm?

I always switched my chicks to the hydro-hen with no issues.

 

[sourland]

Only have 8 birds and the vital pack is soooooo big... it will last them forever... so just keep them on it, it wont cause any harm?

I think it's worth a call to Meyer's to find out for sure.

 

[Merra]

I always switched my chicks to the hydro-hen with no issues.

When do you switch yours (how many weeks old)?

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

When do you switch yours (how many weeks old)?

I usually keep my chicks on the nutri-drench for a week to two depending if anyone has pasty butt or not acting not quite normal. Then I switch to the hydro-hen in their water, it is safe to use all the time.

 

[rosemarythyme]

IMO no need to keep chickens on vitamins, electrolytes etc all the time. It's a good idea for newly arrived chicks to help get them over shipping stress, but as long as they all seem to be doing well I wouldn't use it more than a week or two.

After that you can switch to plain water, or if you believe in ACV and aren't using a metal waterer you can add that at that time.