BrightonSteve Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I want to give our girls a boost as the weather gets colder and have tried using apple cider vinegar (the poultry version, not the culinary one) but even at a lower than suggested dose they just stop drinking the water. Am wondering whether to try poultry spice instead - is it a suitable tonic? Or are there other ways of getting the girls to drink a tonic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 How long have you been giving the acv? I would be a bit tough with them, they wont let themselves die of thirst so will drink it eventually! I am using lifeguard for my girls at the mo, it goes in the water. You may find they wont eat the poultry spice either if they are a bit fussy ! Good luck with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I've had the same problem in the past with my girls refusing to drink water that has tonic in it (although they seem to be quite happy with the Lifeguard I'm giving them at the moment ). An alternative is to feed ex batt pellets/crumb over winter. It's perfectly fine to feed this to non-ex-batt hens, the difference is that there are added vitamins and minerals to support refeathering etc so it's actually really good for hens that are moulting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Lifeguard here too, and no problems with them drinking it. Tough love is what's needed - they will drink it if they're thirsty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrightonSteve Posted December 5, 2011 Author Share Posted December 5, 2011 Thanks for the replies - I gave them the tonic for a couple of days but they stopped drinking altogether, so I reverted to plain water and they drank and drank! Is poultry spice a good alternative? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 You might find that they will leave any powdered tonic in the bottom of the feeder - mine do. I stick with Life-Guard and they love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Mine are doing great on Lifeguard - it's like a wonder drink! I made Chicken porage on Saturday for the first time (doesn't it stink ) but put Poultry Spice in it. There was a bit left in the corner of one of the feeders and the Ex Batts were mad for it They all loved it - if only kids were as easy to feed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy_monday1984 Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Mine aren't too keen on ACV either but will drink their water with it in if nothing else is available, Poultry Drink goes down a lot better though! They absolutely LOVE Poultry Spice and will anything with a light dusting of that on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Does anyone else think Lifeguard smells really delicious? I'm always very tempted to have a taste myself (never have done I hasten to add!) Might try adding a drop to hubby's tea, he could do with perking up a bit at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 It's the molasses in it - for the B vits. Their Nutri-drops smell of it even more; it's a sort of concentrated version for poorly birds. I'm not too keen on the smell but I can see that some might like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Hi I give mine Poultry Spice in the winter, put a drop of cod liver oil in first then the spice sticks to the pellets and they absolutely love it. I do give them the poultry drink occasionally as well and haven;t noticed that they haven't drunk it although they FR all day and have separate drinkers out. But will drink anything, drips from outside tap etc and any puddles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banus Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I was going to post a thread on this subject, so as this is relevant can I ask a quick Q on the subject of Poultry Spice Dosage? The instructions state a teaspoon on daily food for 10 hens. Not sure why they state 10 hens as few of us actually have 10 chickens and I have only have 3. So I sprinkle half a teaspoon in their food every other day or so. If I put half a teaspoon every day (as suggested) it would be too concentrated. So, so that I get the proportions / doseage correct, how do you measure it out? ps - my girls drank the ACV - but lifeguard seems to be te popular choice which I might try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 I doubt it's actually that critical... I would think a bit less than 1/2 a teaspoon per day would be okay. Or measure out 2 days worth of food and add a heaped 1/2 teaspoon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clucker1 Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 My 6 girls have 1.5 teaspoons every other day (it says you can give them more in the winter) and they seem very happy with that amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
