can I feed my chickens milk?

[v.cyr]

My parent's one heifer just had her first calf ( heifer is a jersey x holstien, and the bull is a purebred ayrshire... my dad was pretty bummed out he got a bull calf... that cross would make one heck of a dairy cow), and despite my parents opting to let the little guy nurse all day, they are still getting two gallons a day out of her, which, needless to say, is going to be more than they, my sisters, or my GF and I combined can use, event when my parents start with the butter and cheese making... each household goes through maybe a gal a week, tops... we we wondering if it would be ok to give some of it to the chickens, maybe mix it with their feed as a wet mash?

 

[duckinnut]

You will probably get a range of answers on this. Rule of thumb is chickens lack the digestive enzymes to properly digest dairy which will lead to runny poo, kind of like humans as we age we become lactose intolerant. So I would give them a little now and then but would not make it a regular thing. I'm sure others will chime in to say don't give any to feed away. I watched a short film on this guy named Paulo Parisi from Italy who has a flock of Leghorns and feeds them mash mixed with goat milk. That's all he feeds them and his eggs are highly coveted, they are rich and creamy. He gets like $12 a 1/2 dozen. Now I know cow and goat milk are different,take it for what its worth.

 

[Dukeofhawg]

The little stinky toots from the lactose intollerant girls... Phew!!!

 

[farmin'chick]

Mine get milk whenever I have a surplus, but I leave it until it barely begins to sour before I give it to them. They love it. Cow's milk does make runny poo, although I don't see that with goat's milk.

 

[v.cyr]

yeah.. I know goats milk is not an issue for most lactose intolerant folks... something about the proteins being simpler...so they won't be the convenient disposal of surplus milk my parents hoped they might be, got it... that is why I wanted to ask before just giving it to them, I wasn't sure it sounded like a good idea... guess my parents will have to get a pig or two(I know they are good for getting rid of extra milk)

 

[galanie]

Raw milk is very different from pasteurized milk when it comes to digestion. Raw milk has enzymes in it that assist digesting the lactose. Go ahead and give it to them. I'll bet you you'll not have any problems. Farmers used to do this to fatten them up just prior to butchering.

For myself, I'm "lactose intolerant" when I drink milk from the grocery store. But when I drink fresh raw milk, it gives me no trouble whatsoever. There are many people like this, they just don't know it because they either can't or won't touch raw milk.

 

[v.cyr]

Raw milk is very different from pasteurized milk when it comes to digestion. Raw milk has enzymes in it that assist digesting the lactose. Go ahead and give it to them. I'll bet you you'll not have any problems. Farmers used to do this to fatten them up just prior to butchering.
For myself, I'm "lactose intolerant" when I drink milk from the grocery store. But when I drink fresh raw milk, it gives me no trouble whatsoever. There are many people like this, they just don't know it because they either can't or won't touch raw milk.

hmmm... I will have to see if I can drink the raw milk... I have some issues with drinking store bought milk... about 1/2 hour after I drink it, I get usually get rather nauseous... sort of a milder version of what happens if I eat mushrooms(can't digest them either... they will come right back up if I eat any)... I never have any issues with cheese or yogurt though, so it isn't like classic lactose intolerance... the only raw milk I have ever drank was goat(back when my aunt raised nubians, which she did because she was lactose intolerant)... I will see if the raw milk makes a difference, as well as seeing if its ok for the chickers(just a little at first)...

 

[v.cyr]

hmmm... has anyone tried feeding their chooks Clabber?


Quote:Wikipedia found a couple of references to feeding it to chickens, as an alternative to soy based feed , a supplement, or just as a treat... would letting it curdle be a way to get around the potential lactose issue?

http://www.mooberry-farm.com/2012/01/clabber-for-chickens.html
http://www.littlehouseliving.com/clabber-dairy-for-my-chickens.html

 

[Den in Penn]

Yogart-like some feed yogart as treat.

 

[galanie]

 


hmmm... I will have to see if I can drink the raw milk... I have some issues  with drinking store bought milk... about 1/2 hour after I drink it, I get usually get rather nauseous... sort of a milder version of what happens if I eat mushrooms(can't digest them either... they will come right back up if I eat any)... I never have any issues with cheese or yogurt though, so it isn't like classic lactose intolerance... the only raw milk I have ever drank was goat(back when my aunt raised nubians, which she did because she was lactose intolerant)... I will see if  the raw milk makes a difference, as well as seeing if  its ok for the chickers(just a little at first)... 

There is your proof. I know that goats milk is easier to digest because of the curd size. But unless it's raw it's still going to give the "lactose intolerant" some problems.