Electrolytes, Probiotics and ACV?

[Melanie Midyett]

My chicks are now 4 weeks old. I have been adding the Sav-A-Chic Electrolyte powder to their water everyday. They seem to be doing great, and temps are finally decreasing here in Missouri. So can I stop giving them this, and just keep it on hand for days that are hot, or stressful times for them?

Probiotics, do you all recommend giving them? I didn't know if I should go buy some of the powder from the store. I know they have some by the same Sav-A-Chic brand, and a few other brands. Or if I should just give my girls yogurt once a week to get probiotics in. Or how often, and what age should I begin this?

ACV - I purchased some and will start to add to their water. I have been reading about it and purchased organic raw unfiltered with the mother. I have a small plastic waterer that I will use for this, and keep their big metal one out there with either plain water or with the electrolytes. I also plan to just use this for the first week of every month.

Thanks for all your help! This site is such a great community.

 

[Kiki]

Electrolytes are not needed daily.
Save them for very hot days.

I use fermented feed so my chickens get good probiotics through that.
I d not use ACV.

 

[rjohns39]

I give my birds electrolyte for the first week and switch to probiotic for the next two weeks. ACV is truly a very controversial subject it will require you to exercise best judgement. Most of the AVC recommendations assume a water Ph of 7.0 or higher. The idea is to acidify the water to match the gut acidity. My most revered animal nutritionist suggests ACV at 1 oz per gallon when temps are over 90 degrees. But the deeper I dig, the more I find its important to understand the ph of your water first. The "experts" continue to present different values for the "ideal" gut ph of a chicken. So, unfortunately, you're shooting at a moving target. Best of luck.

 

[lazy gardener]

Interesting discussion re: pH and heat stress. Electrolytes are basic, while some recommend ACV for heat stress. These recommendations do not compute.

Electrolytes are grossly overused with new chicks. They may be indicated for a day or two, but certainly no more than that. And I've heard recommendation to with-hold lytes with shipped chicks until AFTER they have quenched their initial thirst when they come out of the box.

As for probiotics, they can be used with lytes. But, you can do even better with your chicks by giving them fermented feed. I would not give yogurt to my chicks.