Yogurt whey used for a mash for chicks?

[nilihanth]

If I were to use homemade yogurt whey as the liquid part of a mash for the chicks, would it be good or bad or something in-between?

2 things led me to this question: I am often making yogurt, and I just got 10 chicks for my first time ever. I hesitate doing it only because I know how tricky diet can be especially considering I'm feeding them chick feed already balanced for things like the 18% protein, probiotics and prebiotics, etc.. However, I also currently dump out a lot of whey because I lack currently in any other useful way to use it (don't tar and feather me).

 

[Perris]

hello @nilihanth - welcome to BYC

you could offer it in a separate container, and let them decide for themselves.

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

No. Yogurt, homemade or not, has dairy in it. Chickens cannot have dairy.

 

[Sally PB]

I use yogurt whey to make mash for my chickens. They love it. I haven't seen any issues from it; been doing it for a couple years.

 

[SilverBirds]

No. Yogurt, homemade or not, has dairy in it. Chickens cannot have dairy.

Chickens can absolutely have yogurt.

 

[Shabby Chic-Hens]

Chickens can absolutely have yogurt.

They can?

 

[SilverBirds]

They can?

Yes. Not just a good treat, yogurt is a recommended food for helping chickens recover from sour crop.

 

[A Justice]

I feed our chickens leftover yogurt and "spoiled" milk (it's fresh and unpasteurized, so it doesn't really spoil, it just gets chunky and turns into funky yogurt) all the time.

I use cracked corn for a carbohydrate boost in the winter, and I sift it first so I don't waste as much on the ground, so I get a lot of cornmeal, and mix it in with the yoghurt. They go nuts for it.

 

[nilihanth]

I feed our chickens leftover yogurt and "spoiled" milk (it's fresh and unpasteurized, so it doesn't really spoil, it just gets chunky and turns into funky yogurt) all the time.

I use cracked corn for a carbohydrate boost in the winter, and I sift it first so I don't waste as much on the ground, so I get a lot of cornmeal, and mix it in with the yoghurt. They go nuts for it.

No specific concern for chicks then? I was worried that the babies would be getting too much of something where adult chickens can handle it. From most of the replies, it sounds like it might not be a big deal. I might try @Perris suggestion of just offering them a little dish of it and see if they like it.

Thanks, folks!

 

[A Justice]

No specific concern for chicks then?

Not that I'm aware of, but I'm also not feeding it to them every day, it's a once a week or so treat. I'm not saying that it WOULD be a problem to give it to the more often, but I just don't know.

I was worried that the babies would be getting too much of something where adult chickens can handle it. From most of the replies, it sounds like it might not be a big deal. I might try @Perris suggestion of just offering them a little dish of it and see if they like it.

I think that's a great idea.

Thanks, folks!