The Wonders of Apple Cider Vinegar
Real apple cider vinegar is a natural substance, but only if from a bio farm. It strengthens the immune system, as it is an excellent source of trace and micro elements. However, this is only true of vinegar derived from apples grown in a natural (e.g. grassy) environment free of fertilisers and insecticides. An apple that is artificially cultivated does not undergo real ripening, and so does not contain the biologically complete stock of micro elements of which it is genetically capable.
Apple cider vinegar is an ideal source of organic acid. Organic acids help digestion and the breaking down of food intake, and thus prevent the development of illnesses caused by undigested food.
It is widely known that acidity prevents the spread of coli bacteria and salmonellas. These pathogens like a gently alkaline environment in which they can really start to proliferate. Apple cider vinegar mixed in water prevents salmonella from spreading in the waterer. Its acidic effect continues to restrict pathogens, even in the pigeon’s intestines.
What is less well-known is that apple cider vinegar can be life-saving. Many have found that in hot weather pigeons’ rate of breathing can increase, dramatically if it is very hot, and pigeons breathe rapidly with their beaks open. On such occasions the increased exchange of air causes more carbon dioxide to leave the blood than normal. This leads to acid deficiency, and so the blood becomes increasingly alkaline (breathing alkalosis). Initially this process generates bad disposition, dizziness, then nausea, and, if it becomes more extreme, death. In hot weather we pine for soft drinks with lemon and carbon dioxide in order to compensate for the acid deficiency. If at such times we give our pigeons water with apple cider vinegar, we can save their lives.
In prolonged heat we can achieve even more with a little apple cider vinegar than this. For in addition to the changing pH of the blood, potentially fatal processes are taking place in the digestive system.
Heat is a powerful stressor, but is bad for digestion in and of itself, as the vessels in the skin, lungs, etc. expand, while the vessels supplying the digestive system contract. Thus in hot weather consumption of food declines, meaning that good intestinal bacteria do not have adequate nutrition, and so the acid they produce also decreases. Meanwhile, as we have seen, the alkalinity of the blood grows, which is life-threatening. Simply put, the body attempts to compensate for this by taking acid away from the digestive system, further increasing its alkalinity. As the heat stress has already reduced the resistance of the digestive system, all these factors mean that conditions are ideal for the fast proliferation of salmonellas lurking in the intestines.
Thus in hot weather there is every chance that a paratyphoid epidemic will flare up. In most cases, all this can be prevented by a simple acidification of drinking water with apple cider vinegar.
Like anything else, apple cider vinegar can be overdosed. In too great a quantity it can even damage good intestinal bacteria. The high quantity of acid absorbs calcium (lime) and removes it from the system, which results in motor and reproductive problems. So overdoses of apple vinegar should be avoided. The dose for 5% apple cider vinegar is 4-8ml per litre of drinking water, 1-3 times a week. If we administer it more regularly, e.g. in prolonged hot weather, we should choose a lower level of concentration.
In addition, we can use apple cider vinegar for the disinfection of objects, e.g. waterers, or more precisely for the subsequent acidification of a sterilized set of trays. This prevents the spread of salmonellas in the outside world. We should use it for this purpose to wash the floor of the loft, observing caution, especially in enclosed spaces, because acidic gases in the air can reach dangerous concentrations.
The Wonders of Apple Cider Vinegar by Dr. Zsolt Talabér (edited by Martin Degrave)
The Leading Online Pigeon Racing and Racing Pigeons Magazine – The Pigeon Insider
Apple cider?!!! I’ve never ever heard of this before. Can someone enlighten me on this more please? I’ve read the above and understand it fully, but I need more to know about apple cider. This really hit me for a six and 8 days totally knocked out.
Yes i use apple cider vinegar table spoon to gal twice a week for years,avery low cost way to keep your pigeon in good health.
I soak my whole oats in ACV mixed in the water. I dont have sickly chickens on my farm..I believeit even helps keep the pesty mites off my chickens. I also believe it helps prevent coccidious in my fowl?? I put one tablespoon full to a gallon of water for my babys chicks and they seem to thrive on it..
I use non-chlorinated water when I put my ACV in . Get you a 5 gal bucket and fill it with water and in a day or two the chlorine will be gone , or get you a gallon or two at the grocery store . Stir your bucket of water occasionally also .
thank’s god i just start use the vinger good thing i wasn’t sure about the amount very good to know thank’s to every one
I have said it before on this site, this stuff is good. I use it 3 times a week at 1-2 table spoons per Gal, birds look great. Also, you can add chopped garlic( 1-2 cloves) to this once a week. Nothing better. On the odd days I give clean water.
Great to know the exact concentration of vinegar to water ratio.I’ve been adding one cap full per ltr,ever since I started racing birds not really knowing if it was enough,but been getting good results with it.
I drink every single day 1 tea spoon of apple cider+ tea spoon of glycerin+ 1 tea sopoon of honey on tea cup size first thing in morning , been taking it now for close to 20 years, never been to the doctor since.
I should try it on my pigeons.
Tony
RSA
hi iv been racin pigeons for 5 years i use cider vineger 3 times a wk i put 1 cap full into 2 litres of drinkin water and i hav never had problums with cocci
T5his is a great product but take special note that it must be
from a known source were they do not fertilis also not to much as you are changing the PH in the water.
Bryan SA