Milk

Question
Hi Chrys, I have two lineolated parakeets and I'm wondering can they have dairy products (specifically milk) or not?  I have read several articles that say that dairy is okay, while other people have told me that they are lactose intolerant and that milk is not good for them.  They enjoy eating cereal, but I have stopped letting them have a little milk until I'm sure it is safe for them.
Thanks.

Answer
Hi, Carli.  Thanks for posting your question.  Birds are lactose intolerant in general.   I often give my birds products made with milk (corn bread, cream of wheat, oatmeal or such) or other dairy products (cheese, yogurt, etc.) with no ill effects.  However, I limit the amount and frequency.  For example, I give some of my parrots corn bread daily, but I only give them perhaps 1/2 a teaspoon per bird depending on size of bird (with this amount of corn bread, the amount of lactose they ingest is miniscule).  When I feed cheese (shredded type), I only give perhaps a few pieces per bird once a week (large parrots), if that often.  I wouldn't give a bird straight milk every day or anything like this.  I have a couple big parrots that love milk shakes and ice cream, but again, they get a few licks from my spoon occasionally!  

Dry cereal is good (whole grain or other with vitamins/minerals), but forget the milk.  I think it's OK to give them cereal say from your bowl that might be soaked with a little milk (some of my pet birds just have to have a bite of whatever we are eating), but don't feed a dish of cereal that includes milk (just give the dry cereal).  

With the above said, there are exceptions!  I've never run across one in my experience, but I'm sure there are birds who could become very ill ingesting milk/dairy products (those with allergies for example).  There's no reason to feed a bird milk, unless it's for the vitamin content, which you can provide with other types of foods that are better for birds (raw, fresh, dark green and orange veggies for example).  A product similar to milk that I have used often with much success with sick birds or in feeding baby birds that contains many vitamins/minerals (high in calories), but no lactose, is products such as Ensure, Slim Fast...these types of human nutritional supplements.  Birds love the taste and it is good for them.  I use these supplements personally and asked my avian vet about using these products in certain situations with birds and he agreed these are OK for birds.  
  
Chrys