Apple cider vinegar

[king]

Not a trick question. Why do fanciers want to LOWER the ph level in the drinking water?

I believe the poultry industry recommend to keep it low
I can’t think why and can’t be arsed to google is it to stop bacteria or ecoli

No Neil I don't know why either. Fancier use ACV to lower the ph but I never found out why? A pigeons gut ph is 4.80, chicken is 4.41. Nobody has ever said what the benefit is to the bird by artificially lowing it?
EVERYTHING fanciers put in the water WILL lower the ph level. Meds/Vitamins ,Supplements ect. Tap waters ph level will change from area to area, 6.5 and 9.5 so you will need to know what it is before you reduce it.
Wild birds drink from rivers which is around 7 - 8,
A lower ph level does reduce ecoli growth but giving ACV will not reduce it lower than the birds already natural gut level of 4.8?

[NeilA]

Not a trick question. Why do fanciers want to LOWER the ph level in the drinking water?

I believe the poultry industry recommend to keep it low
I can’t think why and can’t be arsed to google is it to stop bacteria or ecoli

No Neil I don't know why either. Fancier use ACV to lower the ph but I never found out why? A pigeons gut ph is 4.80, chicken is 4.41. Nobody has ever said what the benefit is to the bird by artificially lowing it?
EVERYTHING fanciers put in the water WILL lower the ph level. Meds/Vitamins ,Supplements ect. Tap waters ph level will change from area to area, 6.5 and 9.5 so you will need to know what it is before you reduce it.
Wild birds drink from rivers which is around 7 - 8,
A lower ph level does reduce ecoli growth but giving ACV will not reduce it lower than the birds already natural gut level of 4.8?

I use a cheap pen to check mine was 6.7 I think avidress at two thirds the recommended dose drops it to 4.8-5

[Buster121]

Not a trick question. Why do fanciers want to LOWER the ph level in the drinking water?

I use Salguard to help keep water fresh when on holiday as I put as many as 3 x 7 litre drinkers in a section

[MIL]

I like "Improver"

https://pigeonvitality.com/product/improver/

[NeilA]

I like "Improver"

https://pigeonvitality.com/product/improver/

I am trying that after your guidance but I find it a real bugger to mix at the loft it seems to like to stay as a powder

[MIL]

Phil would first have warm water in drinker, then apply Gemthepax and Improver to the warm water and stir, before topping up

[NeilA]

Phil would first have warm water in drinker, then apply Gemthepax and Improver to the warm water and stir, before topping up

Makes sense

[Murray]

Not a trick question. Why do fanciers want to LOWER the ph level in the drinking water?

Apparently protozoa such as Trichomonas thrive in warm, alkaline environments. They struggle to thrive in mildly acidic conditions.
I have nothing other than anecdotal evidence, but by regularly putting ACV and garlic in the water I have gone years without having to treat for canker. Or anything else.
I think that by doing something as simple as mildly lowering the PH in the water, you give the birds more of a chance and the bugs less of a chance.
That's as simple as I can put it.

[NeilA]

I swear by apple cider vinegar. It is a great thing to promote the health of the birds, especially if combined with fresh garlic.003.JPG
Three times a week I crush a clove of garlic and put it in a bottle of lukewarm water. several hours later I strain out the garlic, add 10 ml of natural ACV and dilute it to make 3 litres.
The pigeons are always in brilliant health so it does them no harm

Could you put the garlic in the acv bottle or would that not work aswell

[Devo1956]

Wild bird seed, and apple cider vinegar in the water. I think it's looking ok. one of my railway birds.