Yogurt

[Jax]

I know I've asked this before, and I know its not natural for a conure to eat yogurt, but my green cheek freaks out every time she sees me eating yogurt and sometimes she is able to get a little taste before I can get her away. She absolutely loves the stuff! Any idea whether its really so bad to let her eat yogurt? Does it really have a high lactose content? I noticed they sell yogurt snacks at the store for parrots, so why not a bit of real yogurt? She loves it so much its just hard for me to keep it away from her, and it never makes her sick. Any ideas?

[goodshep]

I'm new to birds but...I was under the impression that cultured milk products don't have the problem that straight milk does. This would include cheese, yogurt, kefir etc...Maybe someone with more knowledge would comment.

Amy
Georgia Peach (pineapple greencheek)

[Sashagirl]

It is better to feed the plain yogurt to our birds because of the artificial flavor in the flavored yogurts and the natural ones are better for them.That's what avian vets suggest.

Marcia

[Jax]

So are you saying it is okay to feed them yogurt, as long as its not artificially flavored? She goes crazy for Activa yogurt. I wonder how natural that one is.

[Sashagirl]

Avian vets do recommend plain yogurt when a bird is sick it gives out good enzyme and if they have a bacteria infection it helps fight it.I'm not sure if I would give my bird Activia because it's for people with stomach problems the effect it will have on our birds is unknown.So because of that I wouldn't continue giving it to your bird.

Marcia

[DarwinTheSun]

My bird get yogurt once a week, as per my vets recommendation. Darwin loves it too. And when I give it, I give about a 1/2 a tablespoon and usually mix in some millet or a small piece of fruit to make it extra special. We give him organic plain yogurt (no added sugars, and no flavors).

[Icednova625]

We also provide small amounts of yogurt. Our avian vet suggested it and small amounts of cheese as the dairy products we could provide for a calcium boost. We give stoneyfield farms all natural organic, and our fids love it.

[rockybird]

I occasionally give my birds a little bit of yogurt. I have never seen a problem with it and boy does the gcc like it!

[hollyhawkz]

The problem is the lactose... birds are not mammals that live off their mother's breast milk. Birds do not have the stomach enzymes to break down lactose, so it is very hard on their little systems. Small amounts can be tolerated (as they are lactose intolerant), however larger amounts can cause intestinal type distress.

I give Wawa acouple tastes of mine when I eat it and he loves it as well (activa) so I asked the vet about it. You can find lactose free products that are made for lactose intolerant humans. Our vet said that is the best if we insist on feeding Wawa yogurt. Our vet doesn't agree with birds and dairy products??? Interesting how they are so different in opinion.