Is yoghurt good for chickens?

It isn't a necessary part of their diet, but plain natural yoghurt is a safe occasional treat for most chickens. Their main layer feed already covers their nutritional needs, so treat yoghurt as an extra rather than something to offer regularly.

Can chickens eat flavoured yoghurt?

No, it's better to avoid flavoured or sweetened yoghurts, which often contain added sugar and thickeners that offer no benefit. Plain, natural, full-fat yoghurt with nothing else added is the safer option if you offer any at all.

How much yoghurt can a chicken have?

A small spoonful, offered occasionally rather than every day, is plenty. Treats should only ever make up a small part of a chicken's overall diet, with their layer feed doing the main nutritional work.

Can baby chicks eat yoghurt?

It's best avoided for young chicks, whose digestive systems are still developing and who should be kept on an appropriate chick starter feed. Introduce treats like yoghurt only once birds are older and fully established on their adult feed, and in small amounts even then to see how they get on with it.

What treats are safer than dairy for chickens?

Poultry-specific treats, mixed corn used for foraging, and small amounts of leafy greens are all reliable options that don't carry the same digestive question mark as dairy does for some birds. Rotating between a few known-safe treats keeps things varied without leaning on any one too heavily, and it's a good habit generally when introducing anything new to a flock.

Can chickens eat yoghurt?

Yes, chickens can eat plain natural yoghurt, and a small amount now and then is a reasonable occasional treat. It isn't part of a chicken's natural diet, so it should stay occasional rather than a daily addition, and it needs to be plain — flavoured, sweetened or chocolate yoghurt is not suitable. Some keepers offer a spoonful in hot weather as a cooling, refreshing extra alongside the flock's normal feed.

Picked for your pet

Johnson's Poultry Tonic

A 500ml multi-vitamin conditioning tonic for chickens and other poultry

£11.99

Johnson's Poultry Mite & Lice Powder

A 250g diatomaceous earth powder to keep bird housing dry and discourage red mite

£6.79

Johnson's Poultry Corn 'N' Grit Treat

A 270g corn and grit treat for poultry keepers, sold to help digestion

£3.85

Johnson's Poultry Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioner

Apple cider vinegar water conditioner for chickens, ducks, geese and other poultry

£6.99

Why plain yoghurt is fine, and what to avoid

Chickens are omnivorous and can digest small amounts of dairy better than is sometimes assumed, and plain natural yoghurt is one of the milder dairy options, with live cultures that some keepers offer as an occasional treat, particularly in hot weather when it's kept cool. There's no established health benefit that justifies feeding it regularly, though — it's a treat, not a supplement, and it shouldn't be relied on for anything more than variety and enjoyment.

Avoid flavoured, sweetened or low-fat yoghurts with added thickeners, and never offer chocolate-flavoured yoghurt, since chocolate is toxic to chickens as it is to most animals. Plain, natural, full-fat yoghurt with nothing else added is the version worth offering if you offer any at all.

How much, and what to watch for

A small spoonful, offered occasionally rather than daily, is plenty for a chicken. Treats of any kind, yoghurt included, should stay a small fraction of a chicken's diet — their main layer feed is formulated to cover what they need, and too many extras can unbalance that.

Watch for loose or unusually wet droppings after introducing yoghurt for the first time, since some chickens tolerate dairy less well than others. If that happens, stop offering it, and speak to a vet experienced with poultry if your birds seem unwell or the change doesn't settle within a day or so.

What to offer instead, day to day

A proper layer feed, formulated for laying hens, should always be the bulk of what your flock eats, with kitchen extras like yoghurt kept firmly as an occasional bonus rather than a routine addition. Poultry-specific treats and mixed corn scattered for foraging give the same enrichment value without the digestive question mark that dairy carries for some birds.

If you keep a small flock and enjoy giving them something extra, rotating between a few known-safe treats — a little poultry-safe mixed corn, some leafy greens, an occasional spoon of plain yoghurt — spreads the variety out rather than relying on any single treat too often. That's a more balanced approach than reaching for the same thing every day, and it also means you'll notice more quickly if one particular treat doesn't agree with a bird, since it isn't the only thing they're getting.

More for your pet

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Johnson's Poultry Housing Spray

An HSE-approved 250ml aerosol to kill mites, lice and fleas in poultry housing

£6.25

Supa Ringwood Poultry Feeder

A 2.5kg poultry feeder with a rain hat and raised legs, built for a small flock

£21.99

Supa Poultry & Bird Feeder

Gravity-fed 6kg feeder for poultry and game birds, stands on the ground or hangs

£14.99

Supa Poultry & Bird Drinker

A 6 litre gravity drinker for poultry, with a dome top birds cannot perch on

£9.99

Browse all of Can chickens eat… →

Common questions

Is yoghurt good for chickens?: It isn't a necessary part of their diet, but plain natural yoghurt is a safe occasional treat for most chickens. Their main layer feed already covers their nutritional needs, so treat yoghurt as an extra rather than something to offer regularly.
Can chickens eat flavoured yoghurt?: No, it's better to avoid flavoured or sweetened yoghurts, which often contain added sugar and thickeners that offer no benefit. Plain, natural, full-fat yoghurt with nothing else added is the safer option if you offer any at all.
How much yoghurt can a chicken have?: A small spoonful, offered occasionally rather than every day, is plenty. Treats should only ever make up a small part of a chicken's overall diet, with their layer feed doing the main nutritional work.
Can baby chicks eat yoghurt?: It's best avoided for young chicks, whose digestive systems are still developing and who should be kept on an appropriate chick starter feed. Introduce treats like yoghurt only once birds are older and fully established on their adult feed, and in small amounts even then to see how they get on with it.
What treats are safer than dairy for chickens?: Poultry-specific treats, mixed corn used for foraging, and small amounts of leafy greens are all reliable options that don't carry the same digestive question mark as dairy does for some birds. Rotating between a few known-safe treats keeps things varied without leaning on any one too heavily, and it's a good habit generally when introducing anything new to a flock.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.