Mold in my water with ACV?

[pdirt]

Quote:
Something you might try is to offer then two types of water...one plain and one with ACV. Let them choose which one they prefer. If they never touch the ACV water (mark the water level so you can measure usage), then you know they don't like it and probably don't need it. The slime may or not be anything problematic, it would be hard to know without testing the slime itself. Chickens can and do drink some of the nastiest looking/smelling water!

When I was more in the swing of making my own liquid probiotics, I did this method. They loved the probiotic water and would drink mostly that, but a little plain water, too. This went on for about a month or so and then they started drinking more plain water. It's not a bad idea to give them a choice, so they can decide what's best for them. At least that is how it seemed in this case...an idea I picked up from others.

 

[pdirt]

So is doing FF and ACV overkill? Do they still receive the same benefits?

It depends upon how acidic your FF is and how much ACV you are using. A little acidic food to their diet I think is a good thing, but too much of a good thing can be not good! How much ACV do you put in their water? I'd recommend 1/2tsp to no more than 1TBS per gallon.

The Japanese have experimented some with FF feed on a commercial scale. They generally use only about 20% of their feed intake as FF and use a very dilute amount of the same probiotic used to ferment the feed in the water.

ACV is not really a probiotic, but it's acidic nature and some enzymes have benefits. It's cheap or easy to make and readily available at most grocery stores.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Something you might try is to offer then two types of water...one plain and one with ACV. Let them choose which one they prefer. If they never touch the ACV water (mark the water level so you can measure usage), then you know they don't like it and probably don't need it. The slime may or not be anything problematic, it would be hard to know without testing the slime itself. Chickens can and do drink some of the nastiest looking/smelling water!

When I was more in the swing of making my own liquid probiotics, I did this method. They loved the probiotic water and would drink mostly that, but a little plain water, too. This went on for about a month or so and then they started drinking more plain water. It's not a bad idea to give them a choice, so they can decide what's best for them. At least that is how it seemed in this case...an idea I picked up from others.

In thinking about it, I did smell the bottle with mold (something I usually avoid) and it was a sweet pleasant smell. The 1 time I did it (because of how fast it grew weird stuff) I used just under 1Tb per gallon of acv to water.Two choice test is a good idea. I know when my aquarium got a little green it just meant life was thriving, it wasn't a bad thing.

I'm not sure about the ph on my FF. I know the ph on my h2o (haha), is actually 5. In town it is 7. So I guess there are a lot of variables.

Keeping my mind busy with things I enjoy helps to avoid the things that try to creep in a ruin my day sometimes. I wish I was as interested in chemistry and genetics back in high school/college as I am now. Science and history to for that matter.

It's alright, no regrets!

Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[pdirt]

@EggSighted4Life, I use pH test strips to test all my fermented foods, human and otherwise. It's not necessary, but fun to do. I use one with a range of 2.8-5.2, I think from Micro Essentials Labs. You can usually find it on eBay. FF should be between 3.5-4.5 pH. I prefer the higher end (less acidic) because if it's too acidic they won't eat it nearly as quickly. If it gets down to 3.5, I'll usually mix it with dry feed to dilute it.

Contrary to most folks on the FF threads, I don't believe in feeding 100% FF. The Japanese have been studying FF since the 80s and they only feed about 20% FF. Think about it...would you want ALL of your good to be fermented? I love miso, natto, masa, tempeh, sourdough, sauerkraut, pickles, fish sauce and more, to name a few fermented foods, but I wouldn't want entire meals based solely on them.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Good info, I will take it into consideration.

Do you happen to know what your starting ph is? I agree they seem to eat a little slower sometimes.

My hubby is Korean and they like fermented stuff such as kimchi. But he never wants to eat JUST that even if he would like it with every meal.

So aside from let's say desire, is there any nutritional reason why they do 20% FF?

 

[pdirt]

Sorry, I don't recall starting ph.

I don't really know the full details why the Japanese only do 20% FF. It's probably a combination of nutritional benefits and cost, since this is being done commercially.

I started to notice that when I was feeding 100% FF, they loved it at first. Then they were less enthusiastic about it. Then I started giving them some of each, FF and dry. Some birds would prefer the dry and others the FF. Then I found the Japanese findings.

 

[ChickNanny13]

This is where it is SO helpful when people put their physical location in their profile! You live in Hawai'i, which depending on which side of an island you live on, will be humid more than the other. But all sides of the island are still quite humid compared to say, Nevada. Molds LOVE humidity. They are everywhere, including in the air. If I were you, I'd toss your container and stop storing mixed ACV in it. Just mix it fresh each time you fill up the waterer. Or try borax, several posts back, "Chemguy" wrote that borax is great for killing mold. But I have no idea how much/how long to soak your container with the borax. Borax can be toxic, so you would want to be sure to rinse it well.

You might also want to sanitize your waterer with bleach, borax or iodine (but only one, not all three).

Wash out with bleach and RINSE. Worked for me.

Did the sanitizing but came back. No more storing, fresh water daily

 

[Teila]

Howdy folks

As a user of ACV [with mother] who lives in a hot and humid climate, I hope you do not mind me chiming in with my observations.

The reasons I use ACV are:
* It apparently maintains a good pH balance in their digestive system and makes it a little uncomfortable for worms to live in. So while not an actual wormer, it can be a deterrent.
* It can act as an antiseptic killing bacteria in their throat and is reported to keep bacteria out of their water. I know it is recommended to people with sinus issues also.
* Some think it increases egg production but I can't comment on that because I only have bantams who spend more time broody than they do laying

However, ACV is contraindicated in hot weather as it is said to effect calcium absorption.

We are on chlorinated town water. Having a small flock, I use 2 litre water containers [half gallon] which are refreshed each morning in winter and both morning and afternoon in summer. They are thoroughly washed with soap and water and rinsed once a week. ACV is added at each refresh. I use 2tsp per 2 litres.

In summer, I provide both fresh water and water with ACV.

I have never had an issue with slime or mould and found the fact that others have, very interesting.

This is definitely not a criticism of how people water their chickens but, as a person who likes to ask questions.

If you are using a large waterer, how often is the water refreshed? If you have say, 3, 4 or 5 gallon waterers, does the water just sit there until it needs filling up again?

If it can sit for a matter of days, would this not then mean that any effectiveness of the ACV would have worn off?

Could it be that the ACV is not causing the mould but that the mould has appeared after the usefulness of the ACV has expired?

 

[Hay Belly]

The reasons I use ACV are:
* It apparently maintains a good pH balance in their digestive system and makes it a little uncomfortable for worms to live in. So while not an actual wormer, it can be a deterrent.

Can you explain how parasites that pass through hydrochloric acid are made "uncomfortable" by ACV?

 

[Teila]

Can you explain how parasites that pass through hydrochloric acid are made "uncomfortable" by ACV?

No, sorry, I can not.

I was sharing the reasons I use ACV and I did mention "It apparently maintains a good pH balance ... makes it a little uncomfortable for worms to live in"