Do you give your chickens yogurt?

[SnootyHen]

Mine love it! And their beaks covered in it are fun to watch.

 

[PDXJULES]

Like Red Star in RI, I have given scraps and left overs. I was once given a BUNCH of yogurt cups that were out of date - the chickens ate it and appeared to process it fine.

I have "homestead friends" that give the chickens (and the pigs) extra dairy from goats and cows. Most have never had any issues. All make their own yogurt(s), cheese, kefir, ice cream and creams from the milk they have...

When we have/get our own dairy goats (a few years in the future yet), my plan was to use some of the milk we don't use to mix the feed of the chickens. Sounds like I'll be doing more research, before this occurs... Could always give it to the pigs when we get them, LOL.

Goat cheese is a great product, and not hard to do. Folks feed a bit of yogurt to chickens mainly for probiotic support - since the beneficial bacteria can win over some of the cooties they are exposed to. but only occasional use - as they don't process cow dairy well. Goat milk would be a very expensive was to grow your pigs!

 

[Regina Larsen]

I mix some unflavored, plain yogurt in when I make mash with their crumbles.

Same here. I make a mash of crumble, soldier flies and yogurt. Sometimes a little brewers yeast or probios too. They rush the bowl. Gone in 3 min or so.

 

[gypsylady32]

Plain yogurt is my girls absolute favorite treat! I make mine from scratch. I had a batch that came out "grainy" because I heated the milk too fast, so I gave it in small portions to my dog and to the chickens. The hens LOVED it!!! They look SO disappointed whenever I take them anything else now. Sometimes I add oats and/or mealworms to it and they yum it up. Practically fly up into the bowl to get to it! Never had any issues with it and my girls are super healthy. (I only have two hens at the moment.)

 

[RoyalChick]

I make my own kefir and give it to the chickens regularly. They love it and if I give it to them frozen they don't get so messy with it.

 

[K0k0shka]

In humans, dairy causes constipation.

This is not true. If it gives you constipation, that doesn't make it a general rule about humans.

I have occasionally given my chickens yogurt as a treat, mixed with their crumble. It's not a regular thing though because I make my own yogurt and can barely keep up with the family's needs, I don't need extra work added to my plate just to feed the chickens yogurt as well.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I have given them yogurt before. I honestly never thought of it.

 

[PioneerChicks]

I make my own kefir and give it to the chickens regularly. They love it and if I give it to them frozen they don't get so messy with it.

I used to make kefir, I never thought about giving it to the chickens! What method do you use and what flavors?

 

[Poultlove]

Is it safe for baby turkeys?

 

[RoyalChick]

I used to make kefir, I never thought about giving it to the chickens! What method do you use and what flavors?

Just regular milk kefir - I don’t flavor it, though when I eat it I often make fruit smoothies with it. I use kefir grains and make it in mason jars on the countertop. Turning milk into kefir uses up the lactose which I understand is the cause of most dairy intolerance.
I freeze it and give it to the chickens as an iced treat when it is hot. Lots of calcium, protein and probiotics.
They really love it as you can see in this video (if I can make the link work).