Vitamin C and probiotics?????

[sueche]

Can I add vit. c to the girls water. One of them has a upper respiratory infection ( i am guessing) . I don't want to use antibotics unless I have to.
Could I feed her a probiotic to help clear it up??

 

[Erica]

Hi sueche,

Unlike us and guinea pigs, chickens make their own vitamin C. Adding it will do no good against a respiratory disease, unfortunately.

Probiotics won't hurt, and may give a boost if there are problems in the gut. Yoghurt and kefir may provide some benefit because B vitamins (contained in both) can help the immune system. Perhaps an all-round poultry vitamin tonic might be a good idea to help your bird. Vitamin A can also help with immunity (or, rather, a shortage of vitamin A can lead to respiratory problems that look a bit like a cold). Worth keeping up the fresh greens.

I'll just add, you might want to look further into diagnostic possibilities as they might have a bearing on how you manage your flock from now on (e.g. quarantine). It's a shame but several of the respiratory diseases cause survivors to remain carriers.

best wishes
Erica

 

[sueche]

Thanks. I will research a recipe

 

[rarely bored]

While they can make their own Vit C, I would expect there are times when an extra dose of Vit C would be good... Especially with bacterial infections that release toxins, since Vit C neutralizes bacterial toxins. Horses make their own Vit C too, but I've succesfully treated a respitory infection in a horse with Vit C.
I've tossed raisins into vit c crystals and then allowed the chickens to eat the raisins. Seeemed to help the one time I tried it.