How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Keep Your Pet Birds Healthy

Apple cider vinegar is an excellent natural remedy for those who keep pet birds. It helps boost the immune system and supplements trace elements that are very beneficial for the bird's body.

Apple cider vinegar contains many organic acids that promote digestion and prevent the development of diseases caused by slow food digestion. Additionally, these organic acids prevent the spread of harmful bacteria such as Coli and Salmonellas. These pathogenic bacteria thrive in a mildly alkaline environment and will begin to proliferate rapidly when conditions are favorable. The acidic effect of apple cider vinegar in the drinking water will prevent these bacteria from developing.

Not only does it boost immunity and prevent the growth of intestinal bacteria, but apple cider vinegar can also save your birds in certain situations. In hot weather, birds' breathing rate increases significantly, noticeable when they start gaping and breathing with their mouths open. This increased air exchange lowers the CO2 levels in the blood, leading to acid deficiency and making the blood more alkaline. This condition can cause dizziness, nausea, and in severe cases, death. For humans, during hot weather, we have acidic carbonated beverages like lemonade, orange juice, and apple juice to replenish our bodies. For pet birds, just a few drops of apple cider vinegar in their drinking water can have a similar cooling effect and help save your bird from heatstroke.

During hot weather, aside from changes in blood pH, digestive issues can also cause death. High temperatures negatively impact the bird's digestive system because while the blood vessels in the skin and lungs dilate to supply enough blood for respiration and cooling, the blood vessels in the digestive system constrict, reducing food consumption. Beneficial bacteria do not have enough nutrients to produce acid in the intestines, and the remaining rare acid in the intestines is taken by the body to compensate for the acid deficiency in the blood. The acid concentration in the intestines decreases, the alkalinity increases, creating an ideal environment for harmful bacteria like Coli and Salmonellas lurking in the digestive system to proliferate. Supplementing the acid levels in the digestive system by adding apple cider vinegar to the water is the most effective solution for the bird's body in this situation.

Using too much vinegar can be dangerous; excessive vinegar (acid) can harm even the beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Excessive acid will neutralize calcium and remove it from the bird's body, causing calcium deficiency issues affecting feather condition, mobility, and reproduction. Therefore, it is essential to use apple cider vinegar in the correct dosage.

Usage Instructions

For apple cider vinegar with a 5% acidity level, the recommended dosage is: mix 4-8ml of vinegar into 1 liter of drinking water, replace daily. Use 1-3 days weekly or for 4-5 consecutive days per month. Increase frequency and reduce concentration during extended periods of hot weather.

Types of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is available in many supermarkets under various brands. Opt for one with an acidity level of about 5% and made from natural ingredients.

Some types of apple cider vinegar

Besides the above uses, apple cider vinegar can also be used to disinfect bird-keeping tools such as perches, feeders, and water bowls or to kill bacteria during the process of making sprouted seeds for birds. Mixing diluted apple cider vinegar into the water tray for bird baths also helps eliminate mites, mold, and other parasites living on the birds' legs and feathers.