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cheese

Can Birds Eat Cheese?

Cheese is a super tasty snack which many people like to eat. Many also like putting it in bread just like your typical and nutritious peanut butter. It is not only an important food to have that is nutritious and important for a person’s diet, but also has such a great taste. It also has so many flavors that there is literally a cheese that can match the most discriminating of palettes.

Other animals love cheese as well. Your dog, for example, loves cheese, not only in its food but also as just a simple snack to eat.

However, just because dogs and other animals love cheese may make you wonder if birds can eat it as well. The answer may surprise you.

Can Birds Eat Cheese?

The answer is yes. The same great benefits that cheese provides for human beings are also benefits for birds. This is why it makes the perfect food.

While lactose is commonly found in milk and many other dairy products, it is not found in most cheeses, including cottage cheese, nor is it found in yogurt. This is why it is so good for birds. While lactose is safe for the most part for birds, it can be tough on their digestive tract at times, especially if they have eaten a lot of it. However, cheese rarely has this, and so they will find none of the side effects that lactose can cause for birds.

More things to learn: 

A guide to being the best bird keeper

Be Careful of the Additives

You should be aware that additives to cheese may be an issue. Some cheeses have garlic or onion added into the making of cheese and this can be very bad for the birds. In fact, these spices are actually poisonous to the bird’s digestive tract. This is why it is important to be careful in looking at the ingredients of the cheese before serving it to the birds.

For yogurt, many come with fruits in them. It is perfectly acceptable to feed these kinds of yogurts to birds, because the fruits can actually be beneficial for them. The one thing you want to watch for is the amount of sugar that is contained in these yogurt cups. They can have a lot added which is not good for a bird’s digestive tract.

For this reason, it is best to serve plain yogurt to the birds. It is also best to serve standard cheeses, like cheddar or Swiss, and avoid gourmet style cheeses. This will give your bird a tasty treat and also keep them safe.

You can also learn if your bird can eat chocolate here.