What can I put in their water to give them a boost?

[Georgia Boy 1970]

I usually don't brood chicks or hatch chicks in the summer. I always start hatching in january. But right now I brooding some turken bantams. They just don't seem as thrifty as my chicks that I hatch in the early part of the hatching season. Is there something that I can add to their water to give them a boost?
Thanks

 

[WestKnollAmy]

There are numerous things you can add to the water. I stay away from the Vit. and Mineral crap you buy at feed stores. That is just a money maker for that company so it has very little to help your birds. It is about as low a dose as possible and still able to market it.

I have added Niacin to my duckling waters and when chicks were grown in with them the Niacin boosted them to double the size of the chicks the same age in other brooders.
I also put garlic and apple cider vinegar in the water about 3 times a week.
I buy Dawes A-D-E online and add it twice a week.

I never put more than one thing in the water at a time as some things can cancel the others out.

Make sure you deworm your birds and I always add grass with dirt clods to brooders as they mature to give them good bacteria and enzymes to help promote immunity and health.

Everyone does it differently and you just have to find what works well for you and your birds.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Amy/Nadine, is that you????

And yes, I agree with her. All I can add is that you want to use a plastic waterer when adding things, galvanized will break down.

 

[Georgia Boy 1970]

I found a recipe on byc member's website, can't remember who? But it was called cyclone cider. It contains apple cider vinegar,ground cayenne pepper, and salt. This was used for respiratory problems(?,if I remember correctly)But it can used on a regular basis,just omit the salt. Would this be good to use? Also what is dawes a d e?Where do you get niacin? And how much do you use?
Thanks

 

[ChestnutRidge]

Some people put Poly-Vi-Sol without iron in their water for a boost. It's not an agricultural product; it's a vitamin for infants (human). Never tried it myself.

 

[HoneyNBenNKids]

I give my chicks Kombucha in their water. I also give them raw milk and yogurt made from raw milk. If I am outta kombucha I add raw ACV and organic molasses (dark black not the brown as it has more vitamins and minerals.). We have only lost 4 out of 305 and one was because he (cornish cross 4 weeks) choked on a huge grasshopper. There hasn't been any medications or dewormers or vaccinations given to them and they get organic feed too. I know the better they eat the better we will.

Honey
@Mondorfment

 

[gale65]

I've been putting Bragg's ACV in the water every time (we have hard water so I'm hoping that in addition to the health benefits it keeps the scale away) and Probios about twice a week. The vitamins made the water slimy and stinky so I quit using it for now. I may use it once a week or every couple of weeks.

 

[Arielle]

I use broiler booster and cider vinegar in the waterers.. Broiler booster I bought from Murray Mcmurray and have fed it to all my dual purpose chicks. THe vinegar I use at 1 tablespoon per gallon.

Here are a couple other things you might consider:

Could the babies be too hot, being summer and all? I check temp at floor level under heat source AND at floor level furthest away from the heat source.

New more ventilation: more fresh air? Not meaning to create a draft just more air exchange.

Good luck.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Amy/Nadine, is that you????

And yes, I agree with her. All I can add is that you want to use a plastic waterer when adding things, galvanized will break down.

I was wondering if this is nadine too?

 

[flchickenlover]

what do you use for wormer and where do you get it? I am very new at this.