Vinager in drinking water

[JohnInSpain]

Hi,
My wife and I have retiren to southern Spain and we have a smallholding growing organic avos and mangoes as well as other goodies for our own kitschen. We had no intention to start with animals until friends challenged us: chicken are so easy, just water and pellet feed, no hazzle at all.
So we did - anout a dozen of each: New Hampshire, Araucana, Great Jerseys, Marans and the late addition of Malines. The intention is to have an interesting egg basket, wonderfully tasting eggs and great meat (not yet tested). We escape the Spanish summer by spending July and Aug in sunny Norway woth natural airconditiining.
As we returned early July it only took a few days and we lost four chicken the same day. We attributed this to the drinking water. Three months earlier we had started to add a bit of applecider vinager to the drinking water for a health boost and avoid algea contamination. As we poured out the water it had a strong smell and very red. Since we now use clean reguler water no further accidents.
Has anyone else experienced unimtended side effects with vinagre? Looking forward to hear of any other positive and negative results.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - great that you have joined us. I've never use vinegar for my flock - were there any metal components that could have reacted with the vinegar?

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under JohnInSpain

Welcome!

I have used ACV [with mother] in my gals water for over three years now. Some of the reasons are use it 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

Different strokes for different folks and the above is just my opinion.

However, I refresh the water every morning and in summer, sometimes the afternoon as well so it is not left sitting. Also, as CTKen suggested, no metal and only plastic water containers. I have lost a couple of gals to various illnesses but never many at one time and never a strong smell in the water or redness.

Just wondering, did you have someone refreshing the water while you were away or did you have an automatic waterer and feeder set up for that time with someone just popping in to check on them and collect eggs etc?

I hope you enjoy BYC; not only is it overflowing with lots of useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun. Unlike non chicken loving friends, family and colleagues, BYC’ers never tire of stories or pictures about chickens, turkeys, duck, quail, Peas and pretty much any other feathered and non feathered friends

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings, JohnInSpain, and ! Happy you joined our community! I was wondering the same thing as CTKen - - chemical reaction. . Hope you get it sorted out. Best wishes!

 

[j23cuevas]

So does the ACV help keep the algae down. I'm using a five gal plastic waterer and no matter how much I clean it I have lots of algae and I change the water every couple days for my 11 gals.

 

[Teila]

Hey j23cuevas, sorry, I can not answer your question but hopefully someone else may be able to.

As I mentioned, I change my waterers each morning and in summer, sometimes twice a day. Once a week they get a thorough clean with hot soapy water and a good rinse. I have had no problems with algae.

I popped ‘algae in waterer’ into the Advanced Search option and came up with many posts on the subject so you may find some answers trying that.

@JohnInSpain interestingly, some of the posts mention red discolouration:

 

[drumstick diva]

redness of the water would make me think it was in a metal container and corroding it. Maybe too much vinegar in the water.

 

[RodNTN]

Hello and

I am glad you joined us!

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome to BYC!

 

[JohnInSpain]

Hi you all and thank you for well wisking and constructive suggestions.

Teila, the only metal parts are the little pins in the drinking nipples. We use 25 litres containers that we fill up every two or three days. Usually we would add 100ml of mother to a full to 20 litres.

The new system will be based on Little Giant

automatic poultry fount which I just received such that fresh water is constantly on the tap. It makes dosing of vitamins a bit more tricky but we may add those to the feed instead.

Any suggestions of vitamins you have had good experience with?