Unsecure chicken perches

[Donna C]

Hi guys, I'm using up some readybrek and the girls are loving it. I have some chocolate readybrek,can they have that?many thanks,as ever.

[Chucky Mama]

I wouldn't give them the chocolate version. There are many more healthy treats that are more chicken appropriate. Even the standard Ready Brek (please don't add milk) on a regular basis will reduce egg production and could make them start laying soft shelled eggs. They really are happy on layers mash or pellets with a few greens, the odd handful of corn, mealworm, a corn on the cob, a little boiled rice/pasta as a treat. They are not like us, they don't crave a variation in their diet. If they have the opportunity to free range they will pick up all sorts of lovely treats

[poppy ben grace]

Is milk harmful to chickens? i always give mine the leftover weetabix and porridge from the childrens breakfast!

[Duncan08]

I am sorry Chucky Mama, but I don't believe you

The way the girls run around, shout and get all excited as soon as they hear the back door handle turn I am sure they really look forward to treats.

I would love to think it is me they want to see, but they ignore me once they realise I havent got anything

 

I give our girls probiotic yoghurt that I make at home from milk with porridge oats, about 4 times a week, is this not good for them? I thought It was from messages on the forum.

[Chucky Mama]

It is better to make up a porridge with water. Birds are not designed to digest milk. A little probiotic yoghurt wont do them any harm - the probiotics will be good for them the rest of the yoghurt will be of no use to them at all. They don't have the necessary enzymes to digest dairy product. At best it will pass through them completely unchanged and unused (it has not nutritional value to them), at worst it will give them the squits. Birds are designed to eat all manner of vegetation, nuts, seeds, insects & some small animals but nowhere in nature would they come across dairy, hence they have not been given the digestive capabilities to deal with it. Many a baby bird is killed every year by people feeding them bread and milk.

[witzend]

see also the replies I've got in my post about favourite food/treats x

[Duncan08]

It is better to make up a porridge with water. Birds are not designed to digest milk. A little probiotic yoghurt wont do them any harm - the probiotics will be good for them the rest of the yoghurt will be of no use to them at all. They don't have the necessary enzymes to digest dairy product. At best it will pass through them completely unchanged and unused (it has not nutritional value to them), at worst it will give them the squits. Birds are designed to eat all manner of vegetation, nuts, seeds, insects & some small animals but nowhere in nature would they come across dairy, hence they have not been given the digestive capabilities to deal with it. Many a baby bird is killed every year by people feeding them bread and milk.

Thanks for the explanation.

I don't give them milk on its own and only actually give them the probiotic yoghut in a small quantity mixed with the oats whilst I sit with them and they polish it all off.

Didn't know about the digestion, but wouldn't just leave something like that out for them as it would go off very quickly in warm weather and definitely would not be good for them then.

Thanks again,

[Henergy]

. A little probiotic yoghurt wont do them any harm - the probiotics will be good for them the rest of the yoghurt will be of no use to them at all. They don't have the necessary enzymes to digest dairy product. At best it will pass through them completely unchanged and unused (it has not nutritional value to them), at worst it will give them the squits. .

 

I give mine probiotic yoghurt to deal with squits !!! Maybe I should be trying something else ? One of mine is a regular loose pooer !