Lemon in drinking water

[Spitfire]

I have been told that squezeing a lemon in the birds drinking water is beneficial to their health. Can anyone confirm this, and if so How much and how often?
Is there any articles on the subject? I do know that for those that like it, a refreshing lemon drink is beneficial to the human body. I have a Meyer Lemon and it is nearly sweet enough to eat like an orange.

[Craig52]

I don't know about that one but apple cider vinegar is good for them. Craig

[TomDeGraaff]

I think the idea of apple cider vinegar is to change the pH (acidity/alkalinity) of the gut thus disrupting bacterial and fungal infections.
I suppose the lemon juice would do a similar job but it would be difficult to accurately measure the amount of acidifying agent you are dosing with.
Apple cider vinegar has a commercially constant concentration. Lemon juice might be a bit" hit and miss".

I've never quite understood how it doesn't affect the normal gut flora (if birds have such). Perhaps a probiotic is advisable (?)

Vet help please !!!

[Tiaris]

I think E.coli & other potentially harmful bacteria prefer an alkaline gut environment, hence the benefit of acidifying using ACV. Not sure if less harmful/beneficial bugs also prefer alkaline conditions.
Lemon juice should also slightly reduce pH & add some vitamin C. Never used it or heard of using it as bird water supplement though.

[murf]

I've used apple cider vinegar for years on calves. It assisted in scours and a general pick up if a calf went off it's milk. Birds I'm unsure about, but have used it occassionally without incident. I believe it's about the pH in the gut, as Uraeginthus mentioned. Some have used cottee's raspberry cordial. Certainly heard about people using this one for "bombay belly."

[branchez]

I give my birds apple cider vinegar once a week at a rate of 10ml per litre of water,can anyone advise if this dose is sufficient?
Jack

[Canary]

I give my canaries apple cider vinegar at the dose of 10ml to 1 litre for about 3 days a month in their water bottles. I have found if it is left in the bottle for 1 week that it can tend to grow a mould on the glass.

In regards to lemon juice, I had a very good hen that would lay eggs and they were always infertile. I changed the cock a number of times after each nest. After 6 nests over 2 years there were no fertile eggs. An old breeder told me to give the hen 2 drops of lemon juice to the beak before the breeding season and again just before I paired her up. He said that it would improve fertility. Didn't make any difference to my hen - still more infertile eggs.

[steve]

Apple Cider vinegar, how frequently should I give it? Do the birds notice it?

[Niki_K]

I give apple cider vinegar to my dogs (a splash in their waterbowls or a tablespoon in their food once a week)- not sure if it really does much!

[Mr Tino]

When I put fresh water in my avairy I put 5ml of apple cider vinegar to litre of water for my birds,also I being using that rate for number of years.

Cheer from Mr Tino