Is baking soda safe for chickens?

[Weeg]

I've been doing some research on homemade electrolyte mix, and I've noticed that baking soda is a common ingredient. I want to make my own electrolytes since the first ingredient in most purchased mixes is salt. I know that salt is a good source of electrolytes, but its also not great for poultry, so I wanted to try my own with different ratios.
Anyway, is backing soda safe? I read a few articles that said it was, but I'm pretty sure they weren't reputable sources. I know that baking soda isn't safe for rabbits because of the reaction with stomach acid, just wanted to double check that this was/wasn't the same for poultry. Thanks for the help!

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

I believe they can have it in moderation

 

[Weeg]

I believe they can have it in moderation

Thats what I assumed, but I wanted to double check first. Thanks for this info.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I've made homemade electrolytes with baking soda for the chickens, my dogs and I drank some too.

 

[Weeg]

I've made homemade electrolytes with baking soda for the chickens, my dogs and I drank some too.

Good to know. I figured it was fine in moderation, as long as they didn't have to much. Thanks everyone for the help! I'm excited to try feeding my own!

 

[3KillerBs]

It's all a matter of dosage.

The point of electrolytes is to replace the salts that have been lost (not just table salt, but other salts too).

I'm sure they'd get quite sick if they gobbled up a bunch of baking soda. But the dilute amount in the electrolytes is part of what makes that solution better than plain water.

 

[Chicken poppy]

in a small amount it will help them, you should give it to them in good amounts, but not 24/7

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I've not gotten into this part of food science, and have no intention of dipping my toes in any time soon. The need for an electrolyte mix presumes either that the feed is somehow deficient (in which case, fix the feed), or that there is some transitory condition which a specific electrolyte will assist in remedying.

Since I have no way of testing my chickens to determine what they need - and unlike humans, chickens can't sweat - the human causes of electrolyte imbalance (and which electrolytes) are largely inapposite. That leaves me guessing at unknowns. Under such conditions, I am unlikely to take any action, or at most, reach for an "off the shelf" solution.

Baking Soda (like any base) will alter the pH of the chicken's gut, for good or ill - as would the addition of ACV (or any acid) - and provide sodium. Obviously, if the point is pH alteration, you don't want to be providing your baking soda enriched electrolyte mix with your ACV-acidified water. That's basic chemistry.

Beyond that, I got nothing.

 

[3KillerBs]

in a small amount it will help them, you should give it to them in good amounts, but not 24/7

And should always offer the electrolyte solution in a separate waterer with plain water also available.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

You probably want to read these:

Sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate supplements for broilers can cause poor performance at high temperatures​

Effect of different non-chloride sodium sources on the performance of heat-stressed broiler chickens​

Influence of varying dietary electrolyte balance on broiler performance under tropical summer conditions
​

The partial replacement of sodium chloride with sodium bicarbonate or sodium sulfate in laying hen diets improved laying performance, and eggshell quality and ultrastructure

(I have not, but a glance at the gloss suggests they may be large enough to have value as studies, and relevant to the inquiry)​