The pigeon is one of only three bird species (the others being flamingos and male emperor penguins) known to produce 'milk' to feed their young. In pigeons the milk starts to be produced in the crop of the parent birds two days before eggs hatch.
They are mentioned in the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. Hamsa, the swan, is part of the mythical love story of Nala and Damayanti, where it carries the stories, historical information and messages between the two strangers. In Indian text, it is said to eat pearls and separate milk from water from a mixture of the two.
It has got a sieve like structure (lamellae) in its mouth which separates water from mud. Probably this is what lead to the belief that Swans can separate milk from water and drink only milk. In Sanskrit Ksheera means milk and pure water.
Dairy. Although not technically toxic, studies show that birds cannot digest lactose, which is found in milk and other dairy products. As the amount of dairy in the diet increases, birds can develop diarrhea.
Bird Milk. Like mammals, the young of some birds are fed on special secretions from a parent. Unlike mammals, however, both sexes produce it. The best known of these secretions is the "crop milk" that pigeons feed to squabs.
"Producing milk to feed babies is normally the domain of mammals, including humans. However, the pigeon is one of only three bird species (the others being flamingos and male emperor penguins) to produce a milk-like substance to feed their young," Dr Crowley explained.
It's often called “crop milk,” because it comes from special cells in the bird's crop. The crop is a section of the lower esophagus in some birds that is used for storing food before digestion. Unlike milk from mammals, pigeon milk doesn't come from a mammary gland.
While there are some birds that like to have milk or cheese or yogurt in their diet, many of those things do have lactose in them. Do not feed too much dairy product to a pet bird or parrot, because they can't really digest it properly, which can lead to diarrhea.
Never feed dairy products – butter, cheese, milk etc. Never feed tea, coffee, alcohol. Birds don't have the metabolism to cope with these foods. Always be guided by what they would eat in the wild.
At 12 months old (but not before), your child can be introduced to cow's milk. Before your child is 12 months old, cow's milk may put him or her at risk for intestinal bleeding. It also has too many proteins and minerals for your baby's kidneys to handle and does not have the right amount of nutrients your baby needs.
According to the Bible (Leviticus), it is forbidden to eat swans or other unclean fowls and birds of prey. This may give a more cultural background, instead of the purely national reason of monarchy ownership that has frequently been given.
Milk and water can be separated using steam distillation. Milk is composed of many components like lactic acid, water, calcium and vitamins which are dissolved in water. Providing the controlled form of heating will evaporate the water, leaving the solutes suspended behind.
Only the male emperor penguin, which incubates a single egg that the female lays, can produce milk. Since these birds live in Antarctica and flamingos are found south of here, only a few local birds can claim milk-making skills.
A drinking bird consists of two glass bulbs joined by a glass tube (the bird's neck). The tube extends nearly all the way into the bottom bulb, and attaches to the top bulb but does not extend into it. The space inside the bird contains a fluid, usually colored to make the liquid more visible.
According to an ancient legend, “bird's milk” is a sacred ingredient with which the birds of paradise fed their chicks. However, this is not the real origin of the name, but “bird's milk” is an ancient Greek idiom meaning “an unattainable delicacy“.
Risk of Botulism and Other Pathogens
Raw honey can harbor botulism, a hazardous toxin produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This can cause birds to die quickly or lead to extreme sickness, nerve issues, weakness, and even paralysis in some cases.
Lorikeet feeding habits
Because lorikeets are mainly seen feeding on blossoms, it was long thought that nectar was their staple diet. However, studies have now shown that pollen is probably their major food. They also eat insects and insect larvae, together with other invertebrates found in foliage and blossom.
Fresh Water. Fresh water is essential and must be provided always- the more the better, especially if you are feeding your lorikeet a dry diet, as they need to dip their tongue in water after dipping it in the dry nectar.
Avocado and chocolate. Never feed fatty, salty, processed human foods. Never feed dairy products – butter, cheese, milk, etc. Never feed tea, coffee, alcohol.
Generally, it is not okay to feed wildlife. A moment's pleasure for you may result in future problems for animals and people. Processed seeds, bread and other foods that are not part of an animal's natural diet can make them very sick.
The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) has a puzzling array of features. Not only does it have that iconic duck bill, it lays eggs like a bird or reptile but feeds milk to its young like a mammal. Males also have a pair of venomous spurs on their hind feet, but they don't use them for traditional attack or defence.
Colostrum is the first milk produced by your breasts. It's rich in nutrients and high in antibodies and antioxidants.
Your first breast milk, called colostrum, is nicknamed 'liquid gold'.