The answer to that, as with so much in chicken keeping, is “no, but “. Poultry are basically lactose-intolerant. That is, they do not have enough of the right enzymes to be able easily to digest milk or other dairy products.
Chickens can drink milk, yes. They are not lactose-intolerant, but they can only tolerate small amounts as treats. Large amounts of dairy products will cause stomach and digestive issues.
Do chickens really produce milk?
No, chickens do not produce milk . Only mammals lactate and produce milk, chickens are not mammals they are birds. A few species of birds do produce crop milk though as I’ll explain.
Yeah, chicks CAN drink any liquid. I wouldn’t suggest it. I’ve never heard of anyone doing so before. I just feed mine chick starter, which already has everything in it, nutrition-wise, that they need to help them grow. I’m afraid milk would give them diarrhea . I’m sure other members will come along and give their experiences and opinions, too!
They pass through the chicken undigested. If a bird consumes large amounts of milk sugars, it could cause them diarrhea, but small amounts will probably pass through unnoticed. It is believed by some dairy feeding chicken farmers that dairy products which don’t contain milk sugars, like yogurt or cottage cheese, are fine to give your chickens.
What is in dairy that is not good for chickens?
Herbs, wheat and sunflower seeds are good sources of calcium for chickens. So what is in dairy that is not good for chickens? Milk is the start of most dairy products like cheese, yogurt, butter; and milk contains lactose or milk sugar.
Another frequently asked query is “What chickens can and should not eat?”.
Yes, chickens can eat a whole fish, including raw fish carcasses, heads, bones, skin, fins and guts. Do not feed chickens a heavily buttered or deep fried fish, as it is too fatty for them. Yes, chickens can eat acorn squash, either raw or cooked. Chickens can eat all parts of the acorn squash, including the seeds and the skin.
Can chickens be considered a pet?
The term pet can be associated with the affectionate act of petting. A pet is an animal kept for the purpose of companionship. As chickens are primarily a source of nourishment, both with eggs and their meat, they should not be considered as pets.
Can chickens have seasonal allergies?
We do live in one of the top 3 allergen area in the US and I have been dealing with my own allergies all through the winter myself, so it could very well be that. It doesn’t seem to bother him in any way, none of my other chickens sneeze and obviously does not affect fertility.