Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar on Chick Mortality

[FlySammyJ]

Okay, so I've heard a lot about folks giving apple cider vinegar (ACV) to chicks around here. It makes sense to me, and I drink it myself. I do personally give it to my chicks, but I haven't seen any actual data about how it affects them. There are tons of folks who say that it's not as effective as conventional preventative medications and supplements, and it can seem like a "he said, she said" kind of issue to new chick owners. I'd like to gather some data in order to submit an article to BYC and see if we can find an actual correlation in chick health and ACV administration.

In that line, I'd like to invite anyone and everyone to post here or PM me with the following info:
1. Do you provide ACV to your chicks? (If not, skip to #4)
2. How much, how often, and by what method?
3. Is it pasteurized (does it have "the mother")?
4. Do you provide any other supplements? If so, what?
5. How many chicks were in your last batch and how many had you lost to any natural cause by 10 weeks?

This data of course can't get into WHY it affects them, just WHETHER it does in a statistically quantifiably way. Please also keep in mind that this data will by limited by a "response bias," meaning you guys are all on the honor system to accurately report your data. If ACV really does have an effect, it will be apparent in the real numbers even if your batch of chicks was an outlier.

 

[BScott03]

I would definitely like to know too. I lost two chick last night (I think because of the cold) but I really don't want to lose anymore!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I haven't come across any controlled experiments about the use of vinegar in chick water.

I do use it myself. Two tablespoons to the gallon of water. Not organic, not "live" with the mother still in it, just ordinary old grocery store apple cider vinegar.

What effect has it had?

To be honest I cannot tell. My chick mortality has not changed from what it was before I started using it. I typically brood fifty or so chicks at a time. Excluding losses that resulted from shipping stress (as in the first seventy two hours) I lose maybe one chick in a batch and not always then. I move them into grow-out tractors (on the ground, moved daily) and I may lose one, usually to an accident, by the time they reach sixteen weeks when they are moved to layer tractors or have been sold. Pretty much the same losses I had before I started using it. I always use medicated feed, but around here if you can find the non-medicated at all it usually is only available in twenty five pound bags.

I like using vinegar because it deters the growth of bio-film (a.k.a. slime) in the waterers and because of this I believe it also deters the growth of other, possibly pathogenic, microbes in their water.

The last batch of chicks will go out on the ground in another couple of weeks then I'll be done for the season. About 250 chicks more or less in five flocks. In the fall I'll do another 100-150 for the winter market. They get vinegar in their water for the five-six weeks they are in the brooder then for the first two weeks in the grow-out tractors. After that it's just plain water. I do not run my layer tractors over the same ground as the grow-out pens.

 

[countrygirl74]

I haven't had a lot of experience but here's the info from the 2 batches of chicks that I have raised in the last year...

Chick Batch 1:
Shipped chicks
Various standard breeds and silkies
Ordered 12 - all 12 arrived safely, no mortalities until butchered extra roos at 4 months - all others still alive and healthy at 6 months
Fed: Organic chick starter (non-medicated) for about 2 months, then fed fermented feed using organic/non-gmo mash
Water: 1 teaspoon per quart water organic unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
Habitat: Rubbermaid bin with heat lamp and pine crumbles animal bedding for brooder
Currently outdoors on dirt run with deep litter - pine shavings & straw
No pasty butt after 2 days within receipt of chicks
NO other supplements

Chick Batch 2:
Purchased locally from feed store (feed store acquired them from hatchery)
Various standard and large breeds
Purchased 13 - all still alive and healthy at 8 weeks
Fed: Started on fermented feed using organic/non-gmo starter mash
Water: 1 teaspoon per quart water of organic unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
Habitat: Rubbermaid bin with heat lamp and pine crumbles animal bedding for brooder
1 dirt clod added to brooder at 1 week of age
Currently outdoors on dirt run with deep litter - pine shavings & straw
Supplements: Given poly-vi-sol in water for 1st week
Some chicks from this batch had pasty butt when purchased - after getting them home and in the environment, food, and water I provided, no pasty butt was found after day 1