Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) for chickens has had some very good press over the last ten years. There has been lots of research done where ACV has been added to one group of chicken’s water and the compared against the other ‘control’ group.
Cider Vinegar for chickens is acidic and it is this acidity that means ACV is a mild anticeptic and will kill a number of germs. In addition to this, it is claimed to act like a mild antibiotic. Antibiotics kill infectious bacteria that can cause disease in chickens.
In addition to these benefits, Apple Cider Vinegar is full of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that are beneficial to your chickens but you do have to be careful where you buy ACV from – don’t go rushing off to Tesco just yet!
Click Image to Buy on Amazon
Apple Cider Vinegar has been proven to help chickens with stress which is one of the main contributors to their immune system lowering and letting in disease. I use ACV during the following times:
- Moving house
- Introducing new birds
- If snow falls on the ground (a stressful change in environment for chickens)
- After a fright – eg fox attack
- After injury
- Once per month for a week for the health benefits
You can buy ACV from Amazon
Dillution Rate of Apple Cider Vinegar
ACV should be dilluted at a rate of 2% in fresh drinking water. This is the same as saying 20ml in every litre. Make sure you are using plastic water containers because it is acidic and will corrode galvanised containers. The normal rate at which to give to chickens in order to be beneficial is for one week per month. If you choose the first week of every month, it will be easier to remember. Chicks and growers can be given 0.5% ACV in water or 5ml per litre.
Do you have any information on Apple Cider Vinegar? Please leave me a comment below.
Oh I didn’t realize that was the reasoning behind no-store-bought-ACV. I’d just thought it was an unfounded and overly-zealous organic thing. Thanks for your articles. Short, sweet, smart. And thanks for the courtesy of replying to your readers’ comments.
Michael
Herriman, Utah
I would like to give my girls some ACV on a monthly basis to keep them healthy and happy.. but I live in SW France and am not sure where to buy it .. do you have any advice?
I’m sorry I don’t know where you can buy it in France although I am sure it must exist. Check the supermarkets as they may also sell unpasturised ACV in France. You can probably still buy it online in the UK and have it shipped to France but I am guessing it will be at a high cost.
I have a 5 gallon plastic waterer. How much ACV should I add to the water to make the right mixture?
I have had my hens since July, and read to add ‘vinegar’ to the water, which I have been doing, because they like their water mildly acidic. I didn’t realize you were to use ACV and only do it once a month for health reasons. Thanks for your information.
ACV should be diluted at a rate of 2% in fresh drinking water which is approx 0.1 imperial Gallons
I am in the USA and the ACV I got is 5%. My plastic water can is a 7 gal. rather than a 5 gal. Can you tell me, in US measurements, how much ACV to add to 7 gallons of water to give the correct dillution? I am not good at trying to figure from UK measurments to US measurments. Thanks so much. Your web sight has LOTS of good information on it.
I typed it into Google and it would be 0.35 Gallons.
i have read your pages on here and would like to be on your email
I’m sorry, I don’t have an email list…
i just bought my ACV and will start using it tomorrow. i was able to find Braggs unpasterized with the mother at my local gocery store! thank you for this article! i will be using it one a week every month. my question is during times of very hot weather is ACV good to reduce heat stress? if yes how long should it be used for heat stress? if no what would you recommend?
I don’t know, I haven’t had any problems with heat so haven’t really researched this before.