Natural chicken keepers swear by apple cider vinegar (ACV) as part of a healthy diet: it's an immune booster, a nutritional supplement, and a cure for a variety of ailments. Hundreds of people claim it has improved the health and performance of their chickens. And hundreds of people can't be wrong. Right?
A simple internet search will show that the effects of apple cider vinegar for chickens include:
- Kills parasites by actually seeping out of the skin to deter lice and mites
- Kills intestinal worms
- Treats all types of chicken diseases
- Improves digestion and feed turnover
- Builds immunity
- Prevents the spread of diseases
- Increases egg production and increases fertility rates
- Accelerates feathering after moulting
- Leads to faster growth and better weight gain
- Balances the body's pH, making it more alkaline and less susceptible to disease
If it seems too good to be true...
You know what they say... if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. For less than 1 cent per dose added to drinking water, can ACV really replace modern medicine? Does it really have all these health benefits?
It sounds a bit like an old wives' tale. Or the wishful thinking of the ACV manufacturers. So should you believe the hype?
Obviously, not all claims about the effects of apple cider vinegar (ACV) may be true. For example, your chickens need to go on an ACV bender, similar to "The Hangover," before the stuff actually starts seeping out of their pores. Especially considering thatchickens can't sweat! And while ACV is highly acidic and can change the pH of urine, and perhaps chicken poop,There is little evidence that it affects the body's pH, and the jury is out on whether the pH of the diet actually matters.
But while much of the hype surrounding ACV is just that, there are scientifically proven benefits to feeding it to your chickens.
What does science say about apple cider vinegar (ACV)?
At Dine a Chook we want to make keeping poultry easier. So we are not going to sell you something that doesn't work. And we sell apple cider vinegar, it's actually oursPoultry health carebest selling! But we did our research and didn't just rely on old wives' tales.
Despite the questions raised by some of the above “benefits,” there is an increasing number of scientific studies showing tangible benefits from consuming apple cider vinegar. Some small studies have been done in chickens, while others have been in the laboratory, in humans, or in other animals.
More research needs to be done on the benefits of ACV for chickens. But if even half of the possible benefits researchers have identified turn out to be real, it makes ACV a more than valuable addition to your dog's diet. And one of the most effective and economical nutritional supplements available!
Why is apple cider vinegar with garlic so great according to scientific research?
- There is increasing scientific evidence for thisconsuming fermented foods improves digestion. Foods, such as unpasteurized ACV, can provide beneficial microbes to colonize the intestines and stimulate healthy enzyme production, improve immune response and promote healthy intestinal flora.
- Acetic acid, the main component of ACV, has been shown to do thisincrease egg production in warm weather, improving eggshell strength and reducing heat stress in laying hens.
- ACV is effective against bacteria, includingE coliInsalmonella, which means that ACV in chicken drinking water can protect against the spread of pathogens and possiblyhelp prevent infections in the intestines by improving immune responses.
- ACV in drinking water can prevent coccidiosis.
- ACV can be used asan effective antiseptic in a concentration of 3% acetic acid.
- ACV hasantifungal properties effective against some Candida species. Although it has not been tested against the exact Candida strain that causes sour cream, logic suggests that it may at least help prevent the disease, even if it cannot cure the disease!
- Garlic is linkedbetter feed conversion in chickens, and it is said to benefit the immune system.Allicin, one of the main compounds in garlic, is antimicrobial and also kills some parasites and viruses.Garlic toofungicide, again effective against Candida spp.
And of course, ACV has high levels of potassium and other nutrients that can provide health benefits as part of a balanced diet.
Is apple cider vinegar worth it?
At Dine a Chook we believe that ACV is a bestseller for a reason.
More research is needed, but what there is suggests a wide range of benefits. We know how difficult it can be to keep your flock healthy. But we really believe that ACV + Garlic is a valuable daily tonic – our customers have anecdotal evidence to support the research cited above, and we've seen the difference it makes in our own flock.
But remember: not all apple cider vinegar is the same. If you want the best results from your 1-cent supplement, choose an organic, unpasteurized, whole apple ACV. Eat a Chookapple cider vinegar+ Garlic is a living, fermented food that contains all the healthy enzymes and beneficial bacteria of the "mother of vinegar."
And while it may not magically give chickens sweaty pores or teeth, it does have the potential to improve digestion and nutrition and inhibit the growth of unhealthy bacteria, fungi and disease. Not bad for a home remedy!
Good for storing chicken!
Rachael has dinner at Chook Australia
