My chickens refuse to eat yogurt...

[AccioSarah]

I've heard yogurt is very good for them- and I was excited to give it a try! I've tried plain and vanilla now, and I've even tried mixing in their food and some greens to trick them, but no go! They try a peck or two, then walk away from it and refuse to go anywhere near it. Shouldn't they all have different tastes? I thought at least ONE would enjoy it!

Any other tricks to try? Or are other flavored yogurts good for them too?

Let me know!

 

[Yay Chicks!]

You might try throwing in some dried meal worms.

 

[franklinchickens]

My chickens attack yogurt when I put it out, but then turn up their noses at other stuff that people say their chickens love. Who knows?
We use organic plain yogurt. A lot of the plain or other yogurts have chemicals, sugar, additives, etc. and perhaps that is what they are sensing? The Dannon all natural is pretty inexpensive (compared to something like stonyfield) and doesn't have the additives.

 

[sydney13]

one of my chickens was like that too. i got her from a factory so she was only feed commercial feed but after i while she started to eat it and now she loves it. just give them time and i bet they will get a taste for it

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
You have very fussy chicks. I would never feed yogurt to my critters.

It is too expensive.

 

[moetrout]

Try giving them some frozen, maybe that will interest them. Mine love it!

 

[pikachupacabra]

my chickens don't like yogurt either...I've tried mixing in chicken crumbles, chick mash, bulgar wheat, rice, raisins, and they try one bite, and then start trying to shake/wipe it all off their beaks as fast as they can. I wondered if emptying some acidophilus capsules into their feed would have the same effect?

 

[MakNugget]

If they don't like it, then don't give them any?

My girls yogurt (always plain) consumption varies so I try not to serve up too much. I rarely offer it by itself, with a little boss sprinkled on top maybe. They only get about 1-2 tablespoons (heaping teaspoons) on a plate if served fresh. If I freeze it (in a small cup and unmold) for a hot day, I may use more, and they do tend to consume more on average on those days. I've offered leftover sliced cucumbers with it which turned out to be popular.

I've also dipped other treats into it before offering to the chickens if I notice it's not todays favorite and then they eat it.

 

[pgpoultry]

my girls prefer the flavoured varieties, and it's not going to rot their teeth is it?

Sandie

 

[swordgeek]

The first time I put yogurt out there, it was plain. Sitting in a big bowl. They didn't go near it. I scraped it into the trash that night.

The next time, I mixed in a little leftover blueberry yogurt that one of my kids had forgotten to finish, and tossed some frozen blueberries in with it. I watched them circle it warily, until one finally pecked it. Plucked out a berry. Thought about it a bit. Went back at it. Pretty soon, they were all fighting for a spot at the bowl.

Now, I never wonder if it'll go - just how quickly! They practically tackle me when they see their special bowl coming. Sometimes I mix in ground flax seed, or handful of quick oats, pr berries, whatever I have around. They'll eat the plain yogurt without complaints, but they do prefer fruit flavors. I just don't give them much of it, because I don't want to give them the added sugar.