Vinegar
Why should a fancier use vinegar for his pigeons?
    Apple cider vinegar or just plain vinegar will
  • acidify the contents in the crop and discourage the multiplication of trichomonas organisms. It will, however, not cure pigeons of trichomoniasis. Also, bacteria which do not like an acidic environment such as Salmonella, for example, are discouraged from multiplying in the crop. Acid loving bacteria like the lactobacilli, on the other hand, will find this a hospitable environment and can continue on their way to the colon where they will find favourable conditions for growth and multiplication. I am certain that any acid such as vinegar cannot survive its journey into the colon. It can probably pass the stomach but the very basic pancreatic juice emptying into the small intestine will most certainly neutralize it to allow the absorption of the resultant water and acetate.
    Although none of the vinegar ingested arrives in the large intestine how can it possibly then result in the acidification of the colonic contents? The answer lies in its favouring lactobacilli to survive the journey to the colon at the expense of bacteria like Escherichia coli and Salmonella who like a more neutral or basic ph. These lactobacilli will consequently colonize the colon and their metabolic products such as lactic acid are responsible for this observed increase in acidity.
  • acidify the contents of the gizzard, leading to better digestion.
  • lower the blood pressure and cholesterol level.
  • ameliorate muscle cramps and
  • decrease the concentration of
    • Escherichia coli
    • Salmonella and
    • yeasts in the colon.
  • disinfect the drinking water.
It is advantageous to be somewhat sceptical in our world where so many salesmen and would-be salesmen try to take advantage of gullible people and separate them from their money. Any sceptic should make the following experiment: Give some of your pigeons apple cider vinegar for 3 weeks and treat the others as usual. You may find that the group receiving the vinegar has now softer feathers and more oil spots on their feathers than the other group. You are aware, I am sure, that soft plumage and oil spots are a sign of good condition which was contributed to by the use of apple cider vinegar. You will also find them to take their exercise with more enthusiasm attesting to their better condition.
The following schedule was recommended:
In the flying season: on the 2nd and 3rd day after a race
In the off season: every day for 3-4 weeks
During moulting: 3-4 days per week
If diarrhoea: for 5-7 days
Recommended Dosage: from 5ml to 15ml vinegar per 1000ml H2O but this depends on the ph of the water. The more basic the water, the more vinegar will be required.
A dosage of 15 ml vinegar per 1000ml H2O can be used for giving them a bath, no other salts and powders being necessary, and this is said to effectively eliminate ectoparasites.
It wasn't too many years ago that the droppings in some nests in my loft were excessively wet. I blamed the parents of those youngsters for feeding them too much water. Checking the crops of those youngsters revealed way too much water or not enough grain. I shouldn't have gotten angry at their parents. It would have been better to look into a mirror to find the one who was guilty of this state of affairs. The old ones were looking for salt and minerals. Since the source of these nutrients did not appeal to the old ones they drank excessively. They tried to supply their youngsters with these nutrients, a tiny amount of which could be found in the water.
Adding enough vinegar to the water will result in less water feeding also as will many other substances which make the water almost non-potable. Birds won't drink too much of this stuff but it would be much better to correct the deficiency than just treating the symptoms. Vinegar is just acetic acid which will be neutralized easily by the feed in the crop since it has no buffering capacity. Adding it to the drinking water results in the birds drinking less as they do not like this acidic taste. Less water will consequently be available for the body's response to a deficiency of salt or minerals or to intestinal irritation which would normally result in diarrhea. There will therefore be less diarrhea visible and the fancier may fool himself into thinking that all is well.
I found "AcidPak" to be a better water additive for discouraging the spread of Salmonella, E. coli, Trichomonas and yeast organisms. Not only do the birds like the water acidified by "AcidPak" much better than water acidified by vinegar, "AcidPak" contains enzymes and has a built-in buffering capacity insuring that the water remains acidic while in the crop.
Please use some ph test strips to make sure that the ph is between 4 and 4.5 as the amount needed depends on the hardness of the water you are using. The value of ph = 4 below was obtained with 1 tsp / 4 liters of my water. Less "AcidPak" is needed for softer water, more for harder water.
This page was last up-dated on Nov. 6, 2009
Below are your comments:
Monday July 4, 2005
Steve Van Der Linde
Pretoria South Africa, Gauteng
196.41.30.38 		I want to agree with you: The pigeons general Plumage becomes soft and shiny. The dark colours becomes even darker, instead of being dull and grayish. They move around with purpose and generally more mordant and alive. Regards Steve
Sunday January 15, 2006
Jim Scott
Burlington, IA
12.219.63.88 		Where can I find Cid Pak?
Saturday April 1, 2006
gary mcintyre
stcatharines, on.
The cu sells the 4 way acid pack.
Friday July 7, 2006
ALBIE OWEN
LIVERPOOL U.K, UNITED KINGDOM
195.93.21.71 		GREAT SITE HAVE TOLD ALL MY PIGEON MATES TO LOG ON TO IT, HAVE USED CIDER VINEGAR FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS AND THE BENEFITS ARE THERE TO BE SEEN, BIRDS LOOK GREAT AT ALL TIMES
Tuesday August 22, 2006
Howard Smith
Jamaica, NY
64.115.13.218 		I guess I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack, and I need things simplified so that I can understand them. So can you just tell me... How much vinegar per gallon of water?
Monday October 30, 2006
Don Adams
Mooresville, IN
68.249.101.181 		Can one use the acid-pac or vinger in combination with pro-biotics?
Monday November 27, 2006
SAMMY STEWART
SCOTLAND, LANARKSHIRE
82.40.79.95 		WERE CAN WE PURCHASE THIS ACID PAK FROM CAN ANY ONE TELL WERE ABOUTS IN THE UK
Thursday June 21, 2007
nassir al meer
safwa, saudia arabia
198.36.32.13 		thanks for this good articals. can i add garlik with it in the water? best regard
Thursday November 1, 2007
Karthick R
chennai, Tamil nadu
221.120.109.251 		vineger will act as a Antibiotics. we know that Antibiotices will reduce the resistance. For that we add Honey to stabilize the resistance. It will be the good combination.
Wednesday January 14, 2009
richard gomes
Gauteng, South africa
196.35.158.178 		Where can you buy cid-pak
Thursday January 15, 2009
Mike Turner
Henlow, Bedfordshire
86.166.246.220 		This is a very impressive site - excellent reading and some great ideas. Well done.
Friday January 16, 2009
John Boyle
West Jordan, Utah/USA
70.58.43.38 		I have heard that the use of acidapholis in conjunction with apple cider vinegar is most advantagous, but I don't know how to administer acidapholis ie, in the water on on the feed and in what amounts and how often. I would appreciate your reply. Thanks, glad I discovered this site.
Monday March 9, 2009
Dwayne Loper
west chester, pa, 19380
192.234.172.251 		hello i am wondering where i can find the CID - pack 4 - way. thank you for this site it is very helpful.
Wednesday April 29, 2009
Dean Morgan
Alberton, Gauteng/South Afirca
196.35.158.178 		Where can I buy it.All this comments makes me feel that I really need to give my pigeons this " ACID-PAC 4-WAY " product.Thanks a million.Great site.Dean
Thursday December 3, 2009
janelle dixon
bronson, mi
68.31.116.151 		For anyone wondering where oyu can buy acid pak. check bunnyrabbit.com, bass equipment, and some of the other online rabbit cage and medication dealers. Most of them carry acid pak. Costs about $8 a pack, plus shipping.
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