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Apple cider vinegar: are the benefits for chickens as valuable as people claim?

You've probably read about apple cider vinegar (ACV) on chicken-related blogs. It's claimed to cure everything from cancer to smelly poop.

But does it actually work, or is it no more than an untested "folk remedy"? 

In this article, I look at the scientifically-based evidence for and against using apple cider vinegar for poultry. Whether or not you then decide to use it is a matter for you.

But at least you will have proper, factually-based information to make that decision rather than the enthusiastic but possibly misguided opinion of an over-zealous fan.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar and why use it?

It's basically fermented apple juice and it's been used by ancient human cultures for many thousands of years, both in cooking and for its health benefits. These days people make many claims for its use, from helping weight loss to improving digestion and beyond.

But what about apple cider vinegar benefits for chickens?

Using antibiotics in livestock has been regarded as a risk by the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation for decades. It's known that over-use of antibiotics in the population generally has caused antibiotic resistant bacteria to become part of everyday life.

It's critical that their use is severely limited. In Europe, antibiotic use in livestock rearing has been banned since 2006. Other ways to combat illness and in particular bacterial diseases had to be found. That led to research for natural alternatives.

Enter apple cider vinegar.

Important: type matters! Apple cider vinegar with "the mother".

The apple cider vinegar you see in your local supermarket is likely to be pasteurised. The process of pasteurisation kills helpful bacteria. So it doesn't offer the same health benefits.

You need to look for organic, unpasteurised ACV. It's this raw, unprocessed type that contains the "mother". The "mother" develops during fermentation and is the source of its probiotics - good bacteria - along with vitamins and minerals.

Braggs is one of the most well-respected brands of organic apple cider vinegar. 

How to tell the difference?

• Pasteurised is clear. The "mother" and most of the nutrients have been filtered out. 

• Unpasteurised is cloudy, and you may see a cobweb-type substance hanging in the liquid - that's the "mother".

• If you make your own, the "mother" is likely to be even more dense than in commercially produced ACV - a bit like a slice of liver. See the photo below - it may not look pretty, but it's where the goodness is.

Apple cider vinegar: claims of "cures" for poultry.

You'll see statements all over poultry blogs and websites about ACV curing more or less everything. Most of it is purely anecdotal - "it must work because I give it to my chickens and they've never had worms / mites / diarrhea / respiratory problems..."

But then a lot of other people have never used it, and their chickens haven't had any of those things either!

Some of the supposed benefits I've seen listed for chickens are:

• Stress relief for chickens "not feeling on top form"
• Gets rid of "microbes" and "nasty toxins"
• Promotes healthy "mucous flow" and therefore "clears the airways" and cures respiratory diseases
• Makes the gut a "nasty place for worms to live" so is a natural wormer
• Bad taste seeps through chickens' skin; mites and lice disappear because they hate the taste

• Stops diarrhea
• Increases egg production
• Regulates the body's "ph" so that everything "runs at its peak"
• Is a general tonic or pick-me-up.

It's really not good enough to make claims for anything without evidence that's been properly tested. 

Some of these things are nonsense and could cause real problems if taken seriously. Mites, for example, are not "put off by the bad taste"! And the "mucous" studies refer to is nothing to do with the respiratory system. It relates to the gut. 

Not dealing with either of these things appropriately can lead to serious illness and even death. Be realistic. Do not expect a dose of ACV to cure most of the things you'll see it promoted for!

So let's take a look at what studies have found apple cider vinegar is a specific benefit for.

What are the proven health benefits of apple cider vinegar for chickens?

1. Use of ACV in the prevention of coccidiosis.

It's been known for some time that the bacteria which cause coccidiosis in chickens have become increasingly resistant to drugs. That, together with the public's increasing concern about antibiotics in meat meant the poultry industry have recently invested in searching for alternatives.

They found one in apple cider vinegar (always with the mother).

Recent research studies ^{(1, 2)} have demonstrated that chickens given apple cider vinegar in their drinking water "significantly increased" the percentage of beneficial antioxidants and "significantly decreased" the level of harmful toxic stressors in cells.

The result: "In the vinegar group, no clinical signs of coccidiosis were observed. In two control groups, chickens showed clinical signs of coccidiosis... and the number of coccidial oocytes in feces increased over time".

• So there is specific, researched evidence that ACV does help control coccidiosis.

2. Apple cider vinegar uses in other bacterial control.

Other studies, using both adult chickens⁽³⁾ and one day old chicks followed through to adulthood⁽⁴⁾, have demonstrated the effectiveness of ACV against other bacteria, specifically salmonella, campylobacter and escherichia coli (e-coli).

In eliminating those bacteria, it also "enhanced the specific and non-specific immunity in poultry".

• So there is specific,  documented evidence that apple cider vinegar with the mother reduces the risk of chickens becoming infected with harmful bacteria, and increases their immunity.

3. Apple cider vinegar uses in the digestion of nutrients.

4. ACV benefits for chickens' growth.

Because apple cider vinegar decreases bacteria, which in turn increases the ability to absorb nutrients, there's some evidence ^{(3, 4)} that the chickens general growth over time increases. 

This is important for the broiler chicken industry where birds are expected to put on growth very quickly.

For our backyard chickens, it's clearly a benefit - we want our chickens to reach their full potential - but it's not the most important effect of ACV. The more important benefit is the control of harmful bacteria.

• How can we make sure our chickens make the most of this benefit? Using apple cider vinegar as a starter for fermenting chicken feed is a great way to go. The benefits of the ACV plus the benefits of fermentation make sure our chickens have the very best.

5. ACV and its benefits for egg production.

One study⁽⁵⁾ demonstrated that egg production in hens given apple cider vinegar "significantly increased" between the ages of 24 and 28 weeks, compared to a control group not given ACV.

The difference was not found to be statistically significant at other ages.

• So egg production may be helped by ACV, but only for a short time when the hen is at the peak of her laying capacity anyway.

Is there evidence against using apple cider vinegar for chickens' health?

You may see opinions on blogs or in forums which state that claims for ACV benefits are grossly exaggerated - and they're right. 

What's not correct is to claim that because studies all rely on broiler chickens, they should be discounted for backyard flocks. Yes, broilers are different (and for the record, I don't advocate raising broilers. They have immense problems because they're bred to grow to a massive size very quickly).

But a chicken's digestive system is the same whichever type you're talking about. And that's where most of the benefits are.

There is a study⁽⁶⁾ which suggests that there was no impact from adding ACV to water, but the test conditions between that study and others were different - and this is an old study. A lot more research has been done since that time because of the need to reduce antibiotic use. 

There is, though, evidence that:

• ACV should not be used at the same time as some medications, particularly antibiotics.⁽³⁾

• It should never be used with metal waterers⁽³⁾. The acidity corrodes the metal. Use plastic or stoneware. 

Conclusion.

There is specific researched and peer reviewed evidence that apple cider vinegar with the mother:

• Can be a potent replacement for the use of antibiotics

• Decreases harmful bacteria in the gut

• Increases the digestive system's ability to process and absorb nutrients

• Increases the chicken's immune system

• May help with egg production

• Helps keep algae and bacteria out of water containers.

There is no evidence whatsoever that apple cider vinegar with the mother:

• Aids the respiratory system or "clears the airways"

• Gets rid of worms, mites or lice because they "don't like the taste"

• Makes chickens drink more because they do like the taste

• Stops diarrhea

• "Regulates the body's ph" (whatever that means!)

• "Reduces the usefulness of chickens" (again, whatever that means).

Dosage and how to use it.

It's pretty simple to make your own ACV with the mother, but to be honest it's not expensive to buy and, at the rate it should be used, a bottle lasts a long time! Home produced also tends to have less acidity than the carefully controlled commercial brands and, if it's not done properly, mould can form and it will need to be thrown away.

The best source I've found is Braggs. It's organic and unpasteurised, so it contains the mother, it's gluten free and it's a well established brand, having been in business since 1912.

It also has the advantage of being 5% acetic acid concentration, which is exactly what the research suggests.

How much is enough?

• The research used different levels of ACV in water - ranging from 1% to 5%. The optimum level was found to be 2%. This translates to 20 mls per litre of water.

• For chicks the level should be much lower, at 0.5% or 5 mls per litre of water.

• Do not leave ACV in waterers the whole time. Add it for no loner than one week in every month.

• Do not add it to feed. Wet food is prone to develop bacteria, not prevent it. Use it to make fermented feed, by all means.

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Sources.

A lot of "facts" you'll find on the internet are often people's individual views, based on inaccurate information repeated from poor quality sources.

The information I provide in this article and others is based not just on my own experience, but on evidenced facts from scientific, peer-reviewed research and highly respected and experienced poultry keepers such as Gail Damerow.

Some of the sources I have used in this article are these. They're by no means the only ones - you'll find many others by doing a simple search.

1. Firas, F.M.F. Hayajneh et al: Anitcoccidial Effect of Apple  Cider Vinegar on Broiler Chickens: an Organic Treatment. Pub. Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 2018.

2. Quiroz-Castaneda, R.E. and Dantan-Gonzalez, E.: Control of avian coccidiosis: future and present natural alternatives. Pub. BioMed Research International, 2015.

3. Khan, S.H. et al: Recent advances in the role of organic acids in poultry nutrition. Pub. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2015.

4. Allhardo, P. et al: Effect of probiotic and vinegar on growth performance, meat yields, immune responses and small intestine morphology of broiler chickens. Pub. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2018.

5. Dhawale, A: Better eggshell quality with a gut acidifier. Pub. Poultry International, 2005. 

6. Kubena, L.F: Effects of Drinking Water Treatment on Susceptibility of Laying Hens to Salmonella Enteriditis During Forced Molt. Pub. Journal of Poultry Science, 2005.