Why you can't give chickens milk

[Mulemom]

Ok....but can you give them chocolate chip cookies? I made a huge batch to suprise my DH at work. The first couple of trays came out too flat to take out in public (had to add some more flour to get them to plump up). They sat around the house for several days and my DH wanted to give them to the chickens, but I know chocolate is REALLY BAD for dogs, and all that sugar...I just didn't know, so we tossed them. Would it be the same problem as the sugar in milk?

 

[2mnypets]

That I don't know. Will try to look that one up as well.

 

[SandraChick]

The reason chocolate is not good for most animals is that it increases blood pressure and heart rate...it's also why it is more dangerous for smaller dogs than larger dogs (even when rectified for body weight)

I would not give chickens chocolate for the same reason....wouldn't want to give those girls a heart attack.


As far as the milk thing goes... I don't give my chickens milk...but anything processesed is good and has the lactose thing rectified...that means, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, etc.
Sandra

 

[allen wranch]

You can give ME the chocolate chip cookies... It won't bother me at all.

 

[ml]

Quote:
good one carla passes her another cookie

 

[Davaroo]

Is it possible that we are going overboard here?

A little milk isnt going to kill them. AS noted already, skim milk has been recommended for ages and has even been shown to increase yields of both meat and eggs.

At todays prices I wouldn't BUY milk to feed to chickens. But if you have a surplus on the farm, moistening a mash with it once a day before they go to roost will probably do them a lot of good. Dont give them more than they can consume in 15 minutes and avoid using milk that has turned too rotten.

A balanced feed regimen, fresh, clean water and decent sanitation will do more for you AND your birds than a tanktruck full of probiotic concotions or homebrew nutrient mixes.

Chickens are simple creatures. It's best if we try to keep them that way. I'm just sayin'.....

 

[dlhunicorn]

...and avoid using milk that has turned too rotten.

... dang ...where is that spankygram emote!!!!
David it is really simple (and I know you like things simple)...if they do not need it... if it is going to give them an upset stomach which milk does (which will also interfere with absorption of nutrients) ...then don't give it to them.... simple.​

 

[Pine Grove]

Soured milk is actually good for chickens

 

[Davaroo]

You keyed on the rotten part, Diana, and I agree with you. Rotten is rotten.

I disagree with you in feeding a bit of milk to them in the way described, ie, in moistening a mash. They love it, it makes the mash more palatable to them. Have trouble getting them to come to roost? Try that.

As a food source of it's own, I say no to milk (just like I say NO! to Naked Necks).

As a quality supplement to an already balanced regimen - I say go for it.

Besides, if Im going to the trouble to make yogurt, pot cheese or what have you, then Im gonna eat it!

 

[dragonlili]

These are plenty of better calcium sources.

BTW, had an employee who was taking home the leftover pizza that was not sold. Months later he gave me his hens. Guess what they had been eating (exclusively)? The smell of their poop was horrendous. I never saw a chicken go so crazy over chicken feed, either.

I say that if its not available in the garden, its not something to give your chickens.