[carolbriar]

I want to give my hens a bit of probiotic yoghurt to see if it makes any difference to their sometimes loose poo!  I gave them some on Saturday and they loved it but wasn't sure how often or how much to give them? 

[Aunt Sally]

Yogurt should only be given to chickens as an emergency measure as it will help to re-balance their gut organisms.  Yogurt contains lactose which birds have no way of digesting and can in itself cause runny stools.  The hens do love it though and I occasionally give some to my chooks as a treat - a couple of teaspoonfuls each.

If you hens are a bit loose see if your vet stocks AviproPlus (mine does) or buy some on line.  It is pro-biotic organisms supplemented with vitamins and minerals and is extremely good.  The manufacturers say to add it to the drinking water but I think that a bit wasteful so I sprinkle it onto some soft food.

[joyfull]

one of my local pet shops sells avipro plus and I feed this to mine after they have been wormed or had antibiotics.

[carolbriar]

Thanks for that.  They were wormed a few weeks ago so am fairly certain that is ok.  I will look at trying Avipro plus just to see if it makes any difference but it is always useful to have these things in if needed.  We have a new agri store opened today and I was really pleased to see they sell Chicken health products, Flubenvet, poultry spice, red mite stuff etc.  I might see if Avipro is something they might stock.

[compostqueen]

I give it to my girls occasionally in the summer months, with grated carrot and cucumber as a cooling treat. Having said that I gave them some the other day as I was having some. They do love it 

[Catsmuvva]

I was reminded the other day to use probiotic yoghurt for when my girls have loose tums but I didn't know of the side effects - thanks for that info, Aunt Sally. I looked for Avipro Plus at our new Scats store when I was on my way back from the vets (don't know why I didn't think to ask them while I was there) and they don't have any. However, they do have a powder similar to Poultry Spice (also stocked) made by Total Poultry Solutions which includes seaweed extract and probiotics (smells good enough to put in a curry...). Does anyone have firsthand experience of this and know if it would do the job as well as Avipro Plus?

[Aunt Sally]

I don't know that one.  I do give mine Battles Poultry Spice but it has no probiotic in it.

Magic is another good probiotic that I've used  http://www.ascott-dairy.co.uk/acatalog/Magic-Multistrain-Probiotic-MD65.html