What kind of yogurt?

[Mommysongbird]

Our babies are almost a week old and I wanted to give them some yogurt and was wondering what kind? Plain or fruit? Does it matter?

 

[MydearWatson]

Just hopping on the thread. Im interested in this too.

 

[Tiramisu]

Any kind will do.

 

[snomonkey33]

I would prefer plain since anything else has ridiculous amounts of sweeteners and their bodies aren't used to simple sugars. Even too much grains isn't a balanced diet.

I would definitely not want to feed them artificial sweeteners which may be in "light" yogurts.

I'm not sure what the research of the effects of artificial sweeteners on chickens says, but if it increases the risk of diabetes in people why give it to your chickens?


If you want to play it safe, start & grow feed, and if you want to give them a daily treat stop by a pet store for feeder crickets and/or worms. It is very entertaining watching them discover what bugs are.

 

[KansasBoy]

Quote:
So any flavored (let's say Yoplait) yogurt from the grocery store is fine?

 

[scbatz33]

Plain - no colors, no sugars.

 

[Tiramisu]

If you can get kefir that is probably better than fruit yogurt.

 

[KansasBoy]

Quote:
Okay! Now that seems more logical, and I'm definitely heading to the pet store today!

 

[FrenchToast]

Quote:
Okay! Now that seems more logical, and I'm definitely heading to the pet store today!

I use the plain no sugar added yogurt. I give it to the newly hatched chicks for their first meal. I mix it with a tiny amount of water so it a a bit runny. Then I ad som probiotic (Probios brand) powder.
I put it in a shallow lid from a cottage chees container (very shallow).
I have read on here that the baby chicks start out without no or not much healthy good bacterial flora in their intestines so that by feeding this first thing (I wait till the whole clutch of eggs are hatched and dried off) and if any bad bacteria (poop etc) get in there stomach first that will take hold before the good bacteria will (yogurt). SO that is why it is their first meal so it gets a chance for the good bacteria to flurish and take hold before the bad stuff gets in.

I am planning on making them kefir and homemade yogurt but you all know how busy we are this time of year. Haven't gottento that yet. Then I think if I use the kefir I may not have to use the probios powder.



I would seriously wait to introduce bugs to the little guys right now. I have heard to wait until they are at least 6 weeks to give them any treats or food other then the starter food.
But that is just my opinion.
In the current issue of Backyard Poultry Magazine there is an article stating the author bought crickets at the pet food store that may have introduced worms to her chickens...... so to be on the save side I won't feed them to my chicks, but that is just me.

 

[awalters0815]

Plain Greek yogurt is best!