ACV and Electrolytes???

[nharbison0722]

Hello friends!

I was wondering, would it be ok to give ACV -ALONG WITH- the electrolyte tablet that I put in my chicks water? (For my chicks that just went outside to their permanent coop/run) When the chicks were in the brooder in my house, I gave them a mixture of one gallon water, one electrolyte tablet and two tablespoons of ACV. Once I put them outside in the EXTREME Texas heat, I dropped off on the ACV, not knowing how it would effect them in the heat. I knew that they needed the electrolytes, so I kept that going. Should I continue giving them the ACV too, even in the heat? I just didn't know if it was an issue or not. Of course I do all this worrying and thinking in my head, not having a clue what's really best for them-which is why I come to all the professionals here!
Thanks in advance for all your help! You are all so amazingly sweet and helpful!
Take care!

 

[realsis]

I wish i knew the correct answer for you. I live in a VERY hot area as well (107-110 degrees) i do give electrolytes on very hot days but i wont give for longer than a week at a time due to sodium. I read that prolonged use of electrolytes isnt good. That said, ACV turing their system into a Acidic environment i personally would not mix the too. Because i wouldnt be sure how the electr olyte would behave mixed with the acid. Knowing that ACV alone raises the PH property of the birds system, personally i would not risk mixing the too. I am not sure chemically speaking what the effect of the mixture would be, or potentially what it could do to their system. I personally gave up using ACV and instead i use a powdered probotic that contains several different active benifical bacterias. Ive now used it for several years on hatchlings and adults alike and it has made a HUGE difference that i CAN actually SEE in their droppings!! I was never actually able to see any positive difference using ACV and im not sure their is much benifit raising ph to a acidic level. Instad there are proven studies that benifical bacterias once set up in the system will improve digestion and able the bird to get more nutrients out of less food they injest. Also, the benifical bacteria of the probotic will actually fight bad bacteria thats introduced into their system keeping them healthier. I like do do reasearch on things and love to learn new things and thats how i learned about the probotics. I use a product called probios for poultry. If you do a little search online and google proven benifits of using ACV in poultry you will find it really does not have many benifits. I know many people swear by it and its a personal choice but i would be careful mixing it with the electrolytes. Just to be safe. I hope this helps and wish you the best.

 

[nharbison0722]

I wish i knew the correct answer for you. I live in a VERY hot area as well (107-110 degrees) i do give electrolytes on very hot days but i wont give for longer than a week at a time due to sodium. I read that prolonged use of electrolytes isnt good. That said, ACV turing their system into a Acidic environment i personally would not mix the too. Because i wouldnt be sure how the electr olyte would behave mixed with the acid. Knowing that ACV alone raises the PH property of the birds system, personally i would not risk mixing the too. I am not sure chemically speaking what the effect of the mixture would be, or potentially what it could do to their system. I personally gave up using ACV and instead i use a powdered probotic that contains several different active benifical bacterias. Ive now used it for several years on hatchlings and adults alike and it has made a HUGE difference that i CAN actually SEE in their droppings!! I was never actually able to see any positive difference using ACV and im not sure their is much benifit raising ph to a acidic level. Instad there are proven studies that benifical bacterias once set up in the system will improve digestion and able the bird to get more nutrients out of less food they injest. Also, the benifical bacteria of the probotic will actually fight bad bacteria thats introduced into their system keeping them healthier. I like do do reasearch on things and love to learn new things and thats how i learned about the probotics. I use a product called probios for poultry. If you do a little search online and google proven benifits of using ACV in poultry you will find it really does not have many benifits. I know many people swear by it and its a personal choice but i would be careful mixing it with the electrolytes. Just to be safe. I hope this helps and wish you the best.

Hey! Thanks for the information! I too was wondering about the sodium and acidity being too high and not really knowing what might happen. I know I gave my chicks that I just took out of the brooder ACV AND electrolytes while they were under the heat lamp and they seemed to do just fine! Not one pasty bum!
I think I will not use the electrolytes for long term use, like you said, due to the sodium. I'll just use it when first putting baby chicks into the brooder and when frost introducing them to the heat of the coop/run when they're old enough. I do have some probiotic powder from Sav A Chick. Maybe I'll start using that. I also have a bottle of poultry Nutri-Drench. I think I'll try the nutridrench on my new chicks and wait to give them electrolytes when they go outside. Here I go thinking inside my own head again!
Thanks and take care!

 

[Pendragonz]

Hey! Thanks for the information! I too was wondering about the sodium and acidity being too high and not really knowing what might happen. I know I gave my chicks that I just took out of the brooder ACV AND electrolytes while they were under the heat lamp and they seemed to do just fine! Not one pasty bum!
I think I will not use the electrolytes for long term use, like you said, due to the sodium. I'll just use it when first putting baby chicks into the brooder and when frost introducing them to the heat of the coop/run when they're old enough. I do have some probiotic powder from Sav A Chick. Maybe I'll start using that. I also have a bottle of poultry Nutri-Drench. I think I'll try the nutridrench on my new chicks and wait to give them electrolytes when they go outside. Here I go thinking inside my own head again!
Thanks and take care!

Let me start by saying that ACV does not make the body more acidic. That's why it is so good for us to add to our water as well. I would keep using the ACV. I find that when I am hot, and/or thirsty that the ACV really helps to quench my thirst. You can do a search on the forum here for the benefits of ACV and your chickens. ACV actually makes the body more alkaline, which is why it is healthy addition for us, and any type of animals. Keep giving your chickens the ACV for the sake of their health.
Here's a link - https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/78403/apple-cider-vinegar

 

[nharbison0722]

Let me start by saying that ACV does not make the body more acidic. That's why it is so good for us to add to our water as well. I would keep using the ACV. I find that when I am hot, and/or thirsty that the ACV really helps to quench my thirst. You can do a search on the forum here for the benefits of ACV and your chickens. ACV actually makes the body more alkaline, which is why it is healthy addition for us, and any type of animals. Keep giving your chickens the ACV for the sake of their health.
Here's a link - https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/78403/apple-cider-vinegar

Thanks for the info! I know I've always heard how good it is for you- just never knew exactly how or why!
Take care!

 

[Pendragonz]

You're welcome. Yes, the more alkaline we can make our body the less susceptible it is to disease processes. Disease cannot grow in an alkaline environment. Same thing applies to our pets and livestock.

 

[nharbison0722]

You're welcome. Yes, the more alkaline we can make our body the less susceptible it is to disease processes. Disease cannot grow in an alkaline environment. Same thing applies to our pets and livestock.

Good to know! I guess I should start drinking it myself! I know people drink it with water and whatnot..... I wouldn't even know how much to take personally. Do you?
Take care!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have read enough posts that have said some chickens won't drink water with ACV in it. I personally have never bought into it as being something that will help in any way, and don't see how it can be proven. Personally I think it's better to just give fresh clean water that encourages drinking. My birds live long healthy lives without me adding things that are unnecessary to their diets. That's my two cents anyways.

 

[nharbison0722]

I have read enough posts that have said some chickens won't drink water with ACV in it. I personally have never bought into it as being something that will help in any way, and don't see how it can be proven. Personally I think it's better to just give fresh clean water that encourages drinking. My birds live long healthy lives without me adding things that are unnecessary to their diets. That's my two cents anyways.

Thanks for your input! I know I gave my first set of chicks electrolytes and ACV in their water while they were in the brooder. The girl at my local Feed and Supply suggested that I use ACV if I was not going to use medicated feed to help prevent coccidiosis. She knew I was trying to be 100% natural and not use any meds or vaccines if I could help it. I guess I'm a little torn.
Thanks again for your advice! I greatly appreciate it!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't use medicated feeds, we are dryer here when I brood my chicks so cocidiosis isn't a concern for me. It breeds in wet moist soil. I thankfully have never dealt with it. I get mine outside on some clean grass early, their first week if it's warm enough and add some clean sod clumps to the brooder to inoculate them with my soil organisms. By clean I mean somewhere chickens have been on a lot like parts of my lawn, then as they get a bit older they get moved out by the adults and are fine.