FINCHforum

Just a reminder on the value of organic apple cider vinegar and your flock. This is probably old and well known information but well worth repeating.
Organic apple cider vinegar is very acidic and will change the ph level in the gut thus making it hard for some foreign bacteria to live there. Canker is also a form of yeast and yeast does not do well with the acid found in vinegar so the vinegar also wards off canker. There are many vitamins and minerals found in organic apple cider vinegar as well and these are good for your birds. I have found that the quality of the feathers on my birds since using vinegar regularly has improved tremendously as well as the general health.
I have found the correct mix is 1 ounce per gallon of water and this seems to be acceptable to all our birds. The gage birds are given this about twice a week and the racing pigeons and diamond doves are daily. Paul

It will only affect the pH level of the gut if you provide a high enough concentration to actually change the pH level of the water to be more acidic.

This means you have to know what the current pH level is of the water you provide.

If it's already acidic, acidifying it further could cause damage to the digestive tract rather than benefit it. If it's basic, it will simply raise the pH level back to neutral.

So - this will only work if you currently understand the pH level your flock is receiving and know how much it takes to make the water more acidic (to a healthy extent, and what is that threshold?) in order to actually impact the gut without the water being too acidic for the crop to handle.

Then there's the question of what benefits it really offers?

An interesting read for those curious:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... -Hype.aspx

You make some good points, Tiffany. I have very alkaline water, so adding organic apple cider vinegar helps with that. I was first told about doing this by a plant expert, who told me to add 1 Tbs. of OACV to one gallon of water for my African Violets. But if someone has acidic water to begin with, they would not want to use OACV to make their water even more acidic.

Interesting article that you linked. As I am diabetic, I was surprised to learn that OACV can help with blood sugar. I'll have to check with my doctor to make sure it would not interefer with my meds, but I'd certainly like to try it.

On another note, my sister and I were just discussing how we used to use vinegar (plain white) to rinse our hair after shampooing. It left your hair squeaky clean and very shiny (can't remember if I smelled like a salad ).

Back on topic, it is always good to make certain that the program you follow is one that is beneficial for you and your situation. We all have different circumstances for our flocks, so what works for one may be completely wrong for someone else.

Absolutely agree with Tiffany and Sally. Know your PH before you attempt to alter it.

Hey Paul, another pigeon flyer?
lou

I noticed on the days I add ACV to the tubes the birds consume less water than the days I don't, their water tubes aren't as empty. Some birds like it others don't. I use the ratio of 1 tablespoon to 1 gallon, any more than that (ACV) it is to strong for them.

I have been using just plain filtered water and they enjoy that more.

I would like to try the Grapefruit Seed Extract Donna and Charlie use and recommend. If giving certain antibiotics would the GSE need to be removed from the water supply to allow the medicine to work to the max?

GSE is the same concept as ACV - in order for it to be "effective" at treating anything, you would have to give it in a high concentration which would be too acidic for the birds to drink.

Thank you Tiffany!