The Poultry Keeper

Pete&Jackie · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hertfordshire

Can someone please tell me how much water 6 hens will drink a day roughly. I have a 9 litre plastic water container and also some ACV, I know it's 20ml to every litre which means if you fill up a 9 litre water holder thats 180ml which seems a lot if they don't drink all of it and you are supposed to put fresh water in every day. That would use over a litre in a 7 day period which would work out to be very expensive at £6 a litre on top of everything else especially with P & P on top. Have I got the amount per day wrong? Confused

NannyP · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 10:28 pm Post subject:

I don't put in fresh water everyday and they drink ad lib depending on the weather. So when it's hot the water goes more quickly, and when it's cooler and winter it goes more slowly. not sure you can be so scientific with the ACV and water. And, to add to that, we have 3 cats, and they too drink the water. And who knows what wild animals come along and drink it too. I don't use ACV, and do use Battles Poultry Drink, but not each time, so only one in 4 drink changes probably.
Embarassed

Phew, that was a bit rambly Rolling Eyes

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I use ACV one week every month and like NannyP I don't change the water every day. Some times it needs to be done every day if it's hot or they mess it up flicking wood chips in it, but often it will last 2 or 3 days. If you want to change the water every day you could just do 2 litres and see how long it lasts.

Pete&Jackie · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hertfordshire

So......

how much ACV should I be using over a 7 day period... roughly?? And do I fill up the water container or not?
I had got it in my head that the water should be changed every day, am I completely way off mark here? Confused

Knobby · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 10:38 pm Post subject:

I tend to change every other day....& mine dont get AVC....(Bad dad)

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

I change mine whenever usually every 3 - 4 days, but I've a large water container in the run and a little one in the house (which gets changed daily as the house is dustier)

I add AVC sometimes,
Also add Battles Poultry drink sometimes

mojo · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:25 am Post subject: hi

the amount is 2% acv to clean water supply this mix 1 week in each month....so make up your container ..........wait till its nearly empty in the evening and refill for the next morning,,,,,,,,its not an exact sience but it is definatlely better to feed acv for 1 week then rest.......i always do it the first week in a month to keep track..............when you have chicks its 1%mix BUT only ADULTS GET 2% MIX best of luck.........mojo Cool

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I don't think you will a hard and fast rule about how much acv over a 7 day period ~ it will depend a lot on the weather and what the girls are eating. If they're eating more pellets and not free ranging then you may find that they will drink more water, but if they are out and about eating green stuff then they won't need to drink so much. Some will also evaporate if the weather is very hot. Also if you have a small hairline crack in the bottom of the water holder then it will go very quickly and you will think the girls were very thirsty!!! You can tell that happened to me can't you.
Seriously there is no fixed rule as to how much you will use. Are you asking from a purchasing point of view?

Pete&Jackie · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hertfordshire

Yes, really as it is quite expensive for 1 litre, I will buy the 5 litre one next time, mind you I have some Poultry boost as well so may alternate that each month. I put 100ml into about 6 litres today, see how it goes, Gar rich ACV that is!

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I bought a 1 ltr bottle from ...I can't remember who now, it was off the net natural health or something similar and it was soooo expensive. The next lot I got locally from a horse supply place and got the 5ltr one ~ much more economical and I wouldn't think it goes off either, so a much better buy.

lilly the pink · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 78 Location: Wiltshire

As a rough guide large adult hens drink about 125ml of water a day but this can double in hot weather. You may also lose some water from the drinker through evaporation or spillage etc. You could make up an amount of ACV water in a large bottle and use it to top up their drinker every day. I use it for about 3 days at the beginning of every month.