Apple Cider Vinegar - does it help, or harm?
Read time: 2 minutes.
Like most things on the internet, if you look hard enough, there's an argument to convince the reader either way, and it can be exceedingly difficult to get a straight answer. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is just one example, so does it help or harm? Although there isn't much research on the subject, my personal experience and the research I have read have led me to form the following opinion…
ACV has been used for a very long time in traditional medicine. It’s used for its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant properties, although most of the research to support these claims is laboratory-based and not in living animals.
ACV is usually added to drinking water to 'acidify' the lower gut; ‘acidification’ promotes an environment in which beneficial bacteria thrive, while harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella do not. Therefore, the acidic environment helps reduce harmful bacteria in the lower gut. ACV is a weak organic acid; it isn't the best acidifier as it doesn't reach the lower gut (it’s unbuffered), but there are a few alternatives available on a small scale. Commercial-grade acidifiers (buffered organic acids) come in large volumes and are very concentrated, which makes them pretty dangerous to keep in your garden shed, and it's unlikely you'd ever get through a 20-litre drum!
ACV (cold-pressed, unpasteurised, unfiltered) with the mother, i.e., the floaty bits, contains other goodies such as polyphenols, antioxidants, good bacteria (probiotics), amino acids, enzymes, minerals and vitamins, and along with the weak acid, these may help to promote better gut health and improve the environment in the crop as a first aid measure.
In summary, apple cider vinegar is a weak organic acid and less effective than commercial alternatives. However, it may have beneficial effects on health if it is cold-pressed, unpasteurized (raw), and unfiltered, with the mother.
For first aid, I'd suggest using between 15ml to 30ml per litre; make it fresh each day and do not use it for longer than 5 days. If symptoms havent resolved, book an appointment with a vet.
Please do not use ACV in galvanised (metal) drinkers; ACV can strip the zinc coating, and there's a risk of poisoning your birds!
As with anything you add to your birds' drinking water, always check your birds are drinking as expected - a drop in water consumption can indicate a health problem
If adding products to drinking water, consider that your birds may not like the taste; if not, dilute it, or stop using it and replace with fresh drinking water.