The Benefits of Feeding Apple Cider Vinegar to Chickens

For a while now cider vinegar has been in the news because of all its great properties. The good news is there has been a lot of research into the benefits of feeding it to animals including chickens because it helps keep a bird's immune system that much stronger so they can fend off any nasty diseases and infections that often plague flocks.

Mild Antiseptic and Antibiotic Properties

There are many benefits of adding apple cider vinegar to chicken's drinking water because not only will it help kill off a lot of germs due to its mild antiseptic properties but it is thought that cider vinegar also boasts mild antibiotic properties too. In short, because chickens are prone to bacterial infections adding apple cider vinegar to their water helps prevent this from happening.

It's the acidic nature of apple cider vinegar that's so good for chickens and which is such an effective means to kill off all those germs and bacteria that can sometimes take hold when a bird is weak or unwell.

Full of Vitamins and Minerals

Apart from having antiseptic and antibiotic properties, apple cider vinegar is also full of valuable minerals, vitamins and trace elements. However, you need to buy a product that's been organically produced like this you know there no preservatives, additives and colourings added to the ingredients which could prove harmful to your chickens.

Very Effective at Relieving Stress

Another real benefit of feeding apple cider vinegar to a flock of chickens is that it helps relieve any stress in birds. Stress is a major factor that can seriously affect a bird's immune system and once this is compromised, chickens tend to get very sick and are more at risk of picking up or developing a nasty disease.

Great at Treating Diarrhoea

If any of your birds shows signs of suffering from diarrhoea and you have ruled out the fact they might need worming or have picked up coccidiosis, adding apple cider vinegar to their drinking water will help them get over it with the added bonus that it also kills off any nasty bacteria that often builds up in their drinkers.

When to Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Adding apple cider vinegar to your chicken's drinking water is really beneficial when the following situations occur:

• If you are moving house and taking your chickens to a new and unfamiliar home which can stress them out
• Before and when you introduce any new birds into an existing flock
• If the weather changes which can be a stressful time for chickens. This could be a sudden snow fall or any other sort of extreme weather conditions
• If your birds have been frightened by something which includes being attacked by a fox, bird of prey, cat or dog
• If any bird has a compromised immune system due to illness
• When a bird has suffered some sort of injury
• If any birds have dirty bottoms due to suffering from diarrhoea
• It's also a good idea to add apple cider vinegar to your flock's drinking water at least once a month so your birds benefit from all its properties and as a real “pick me up” for them

How to Dilute Apple Cider Vinegar

You need to dilute your apple cider vinegar with fresh, clean water and the ratio should be 2% which translates to 20 ml to every 1 litre of water. The other thing to bear in mind is that because its so acidic, you have to avoid putting it in any galvanised drinkers because it will end up corroding the metal. It is far better to use plastic drinkers when you mix any cider vinegar with your bird's drinking water.

You should keep adding it to your flock's water for 7 days once a month. If you set up a routine of adding it at the beginning of every month, there's less chance of forgetting to do it. If you have any young chicks in your flock, apple cider vinegar can be safely added to their water at a ratio of 5% which equates to 5ml for every 1 litre of fresh, clean water.

Conclusion

Keeping chickens has never as popular as it is today with many more people keeping a few in their back gardens. Taking care of your birds throughout the year, means stocking up on a few essentials which includes treatments and tonics for your birds. Apple cider vinegar is one “must have” product that all poultry keepers should keep in stock because adding it to your chicken's drinking water is so beneficial for their overall health. It is also full of natural goodness which helps keep your bird's immune systems nice and strong, which in turn helps them fight off any nasty diseases and bacterial infections.