Will baking soda hurt chickens and is it beneficial for them? If you’ve been hanging out in chicken groups for very long, you’ve probably seen a comment or two about adding baking soda to chicken water. Baking soda has a lot of benefits in the medical world, but let’s take a look at whether it’s actually beneficial to chickens.
Baking Soda and Chickens
Recently, I had an incident with one of my favorite girls. I went out to close the chicken coop up in the evening and found her lying upside down under the roosts. She was barely breathing and suffering from some sort of neurological event.
While I didn’t see any obvious injuries, she was fine an hour earlier. I just hoped I had found her in time. I honestly think a larger hen picked on her, but I don’t know for sure. Chickens can be real bullies sometimes.
I’m a paramedic, registered nurse, and health science teacher. I have over 20 years of experience in the healthcare field, so when something like this happens, my brain goes to work.
The situation had me thinking about what I would do for a patient in this situation and sodium bicarbonate instantly came to mind.
I took her to my chicken hospital, aka my garage, and got to work. My husband (also a healthcare professional) thought I was crazy and didn’t think she’d survive the night,
I mixed baking soda from my pantry with some warm water and gave it to her with a dropper. I repeated the administration every 15-30 minutes until I couldn’t stay awake anymore. Finally, I went to bed and hoped for the best.
To my surprise, the next morning she was still alive! It could have been a coincidence, but I’m convinced it was the baking soda.
Will Baking Soda Hurt Chickens?
Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian. I am simply a chicken keeper sharing my experiences with you. This article is for informational purposes only. You should always consult a veterinarian when you have a sick or injured animal. Please do your research on products and treatments when it comes to the health of your chickens.
Baking soda will not hurt your chickens.
In fact, it has a lot of benefits for your flock when used properly. As with anything in the chicken world, there are risks involved when supplementing anything so it should be used cautiously.
Baking Soda can improve your bird’s ability to digest their feed, which will help with weight gain.
It can also boost their immune system. A chicken’s immune system is directly tied to their digestive system.
So supplementing your flock with baking soda is a good idea if it’s done correctly.
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Sodium Bicarbonate Use In Medicine
Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) has been used in medicine for a long time. It’s an alkaline substance that helps neutralize the body’s PH.
It is regularly used for the treatment of shock and metabolic acidosis which can be caused by diabetes.
You’ll also find it used in the treatment of acid reflux. It’s great for neutralizing stomach acid.
These are just a few of the ways it’s used and is incredibly beneficial. In the case of my little hen, I knew she was in shock and had not been breathing adequately.
Why Use Baking Soda in Chicken Water?
Not only is baking soda good for chicken emergencies but it can also be used in their water prophylactically for potential issues that may arise.
Heat Stress On Hot Days
Baking soda has been used by chicken keepers for years to help them through hot seasons. Here in the Deep South, we have our share of hot days.
Chickens are prone to heat strokes if they aren’t cared for during times of extreme heat.
If you’ve ever observed your flock on a hot day, you might have noticed them panting or having their wings spread. Chickens don’t do well if them temperatures outdoors rise above their natural body temperature.
Heat stress can cause a loss of electrolytes in your flock. Baking soda will help to create a more alkaline state in the chicken’s body which is beneficial for calcium absorption.
It may seem counterintuitive to give your flock baking soda when they’re panting. Panting causes the flock to blow off too much carbon dioxide which creates an alkaline environment.
Carbon dioxide is derived from bicarbonate in the chicken’s body. Bicarb is used as a buffer in the bloodstream. When the chicken’s lungs are extracting the carbon dioxide, it’s also losing blood bicarbonate.
Gail Damerow in her book The Chicken Health Handbook, says when the kidneys realize that the blood is alkaline they start filtering bicarbonate out of the blood stream to decrease the PH. **This is honestly my go-to of all my chicken health books.**
Adding baking soda to the drinking water will replenish the bicarbonate and allow it to do its job of stabilizing the PH.
Calcium Absorption
Calcium is absorbed better in an alkaline environment. Laying hens need a lot of calcium to keep laying eggs. This is partially the reason why you’ll find your flock decreases their laying during really hot weather.
To help them absorb more calcium, add baking soda to their water during hot days.
Also, baking soda is just a supplement that can help the chickens body handle the heat. It is not a replacement for shade, access to cool areas, and fresh cold water. Be sure to supply them with all of these necessities to keep them healthy.
Rodents
There is some thought that baking soda can help to fight a rat problem in your coop. Mixing baking soda in with your chicken feed or even on peanut butter will be deadly for mice, but not for the flock.
In theory, the baking soda will cause a chemical reaction in the intestines of the rat. It will bubble up and not be digestible to the mouse. The rat will die from consuming the baking soda.
I don’t personally use this method of rodent control in my own flock.
Either way, adding a little baking soda to your chicken feed might actually increase the amount of calcium they absorb making better egg quality.
Sick Chickens
Sick chickens can also benefit from baking soda. Just like in humans, infection will cause metabolic acidosis in the flock by retaining carbon dioxide.
Adding baking soda to your chicken water will help restore the pH in the bloodstream and increase electrolyte absorption.
The effect is a faster recovery for your bird.
Baking Soda in The Chicken Coop
Chicken coops can smell very bad if they aren’t properly maintained. They need regular cleaning to maintain a healthy environment for your flock.
Adding a little baking soda to your coop or brooder after cleaning will help to decrease any odor their droppings or old bedding might create.
If you’re using the deep litter method as I do in my coop, there isn’t much research on whether or not the baking soda will break down with the bedding. Using the compost in your garden could affect the pH of your soil, however, it’s never been an issue for me.
I also use alkaline barn lime in my coop with no negative effects on my compost. It’s one of those things that will be trial and error for you and your particular region.
Risk of Using Baking Soda
As with anything, there are risks involved when you give your flock supplements.
Baking soda causes alkalosis, so too much can cause an imbalance in the chicken’s natural pH. Monitor how much salt you’re giving your flock if you’re supplementing them with baking soda in their water.
Baking soda is also pretty unstable if you leave it in their water for an extended period. I don’t recommend adding it to your bulk waterers. It should only be added to water that will be consumed fairly quickly.
Baking soda needs to be stirred well to ensure it’s dissolved evenly in the water. It can easily clog up a poultry nipple drinker and similar waterers. This creates a hazard if they can’t access water on hot days. The best way to provide it to them is with an open water drinking system.
As always, monitor your flock’s behavior. If you see any negative changes stop using baking soda in their water.
There isn’t a need to use it all the time. Only use it when the weather is very hot, or you are treating a sick chicken.
If you start noticing thin or weak eggshells, add baking soda to their water as well as provide a chicken grit-free choice.
How Much Baking Soda Should Be Added To Chicken Water?
Baking soda should be added to your chicken’s water at about a 2% ratio. Some research suggests adding it at a 3% ratio if you’re adding it to your flock feed.
This works out to be around ¼ cup per gallon of water. If you have a sick chicken and want to break that down even further, you can add ¾ tsp to 1 cup of water.
Adding ¼ cup of baking soda per gallon of water is the best ratio to achieve its desired results.
Will Baking Soda Hurt Chickens?-FAQs
Why would I put baking soda in my chickens’ water?
Baking soda can help balance the pH of your chickens’ drinking water, making it less acidic. Some people think it helps with digestion and can make the water more refreshing, especially in hot weather.
How much baking soda should I add?
Not much! About 1/4 cup per gallon of water is enough. You don’t need a lot—just a little can make a difference.
Can baking soda help with heat stress?
Adding baking soda may help keep chickens hydrated and prevent heat stress, but it’s just one tool. Make sure they also have shade and cool places to hang out!
Will Baking Soda Hurt My Chickens? Final Thoughts
Baking soda is safe for chickens if you use it appropriately. It can help with things like balancing water pH or keeping them more comfortable in hot weather.
Just remember, too much of anything can be a bad thing, and that goes for baking soda too! Stick to a little at a time, and don’t rely on it to solve big problems.
As long as you’re careful, baking soda can be a helpful little trick to keep your flock happy and healthy.
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More From The Farm
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If you want your chickens to live their best lives, it’s important to make sure they’re getting enough protein in their diet. In this list, we’ll go over the 21 of the best protein sources for backyard chickens, so you can keep your flock happy and healthy.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27
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