HELLO PEOPLE,
I HAVE A YOGART JUST ABOUT EVERY NIGHT, AND I GAVE TOBY SOME OFF MY FINGER. HE LOVES IT AND IT IS NOT A LOT,BUT I JST WANT TO KNOW IF THIS WILL HARM HIM IN ANYWAY AT ALL. I SEEN A RECIPE THE OTHER DAY FOR BIRDIE BREAD AND IT HAD A LITTLE MILK IN IT BUT SAID AFTER IT COOKED IT WOULD BE OKAY.
IS MILK BAD FOR TOBY? SHOULD I QUIT GIVING HIM A TASTE OF YOGART?
HELP........

Yogurt is good in small quantities. I'm not positive but something happens during the processing that changes the lactose content so it's okay for them to eat and it benefits them as the cultures help with their tummies. A little bit a few times a week should be okay but if it's a fruity sugary one, I'd really limit it; the best is just the regular plain no-fat yogurt. But yes, milk is bad for them.

Hope that helps, others should have some more insight!

I to give yougurt in very small quantities to xerxey as he loves it.

My guys loooooove yogurt, especially my Grey. I try to stick with the plain stuff as it doesn't have as much sugar in it as the flavoured yogurt.

Yikes I didnt know that milk was bad for Boris.....he loves milk if you are eating cereal he is trying to climb all in the bowl to get it.

HELLO PEOPLE,
WHY IS MILK BAD FOR BIRDS? I JUST READ A RECIPE THAT CALLED FOR MILK BUT SAID IT WOULD BE OKAY AFTER COOKING. WHY IS THIS?

Milk isn't good for parrots as they lack the lactase enzyme that breaks down lactose- found in milk and milk products. When the milk is cooked a chemical reaction occurs so I'm assuming that in the reaction something happens to alter the lactose, making it safe for parrot consumption. Maybe someone has a better explanation!

I thot all milk dairy products were bad for our fids milk cheese and so on sugar also.... i thot i read that in an issue of bird talk magazine but i could be wrong .... you think????

Okay, I just did some research...

Parrots can't digest a lot of lactose, which is why they shouldn't be fed milk... but hard cheeses don't contain a lot of lactose and even people who are lactose intolerant can handle moderate amounts of them. During the cheese making process lactose is removed and in the end contains about 95% less lactose than milk. That being said I wouldn't feed parrots a lot of cheese, but a tiny piece once in a while shouln't hurt them. I know a TAG that can see a package of cheese from a mile away and given the chance would rip open the package in two seconds flat to get to the cheese... it's one of his most favourite treats!

Yogurt still contains large amounts of lactose but due to the bacteria in yogurt, people who are lactose intolerant can usually still enjoy it. Here is an quote from medicinenet.com:

Though yogurt contains large amounts of lactose, it often is well-tolerated by lactose intolerant people. This may be so because the bacteria used to make yogurt contain lactase, and the lactase is able to split the lactose during storage of the yogurt as well as after the yogurt is eaten (in the stomach and intestine). Yogurt also has been shown to empty more slowly from the stomach than an equivalent amount of milk. This allows more time for intestinal lactase to split the lactose in yogurt, and, at least theoretically, would result in less lactose reaching the colon.

Hope that helps!

Yogurt should only be given plain. The sugar content is to high in the fruit and vanilla Yogurt.

Plain Yogurt is actually very good for your bird. It contain probiotics that can help fight yeast and other infections. I always gave my birds plain yogurt every day in small amounts. I would use a baby spoon and they could have a whole spoonful. This is what was recommended by my vet.