Should you feed popcorn as a treat???

[crimson]

My question is should you feed your cockatiel(or any bird for that matter) popcorn as a treat.

A woman purchased one of my baby cockatiels from me, and she was telling me in a e-mail she feeds him popcorn, with NO salt or butter added.

I'm not sure where she gets the popcorn from, or if it's Orville Redenbachers microwave popcorn....I shudder to think it's that!! The hydrolyzed oil they use would surely have an affect on him sooner or later.

I'm sure there is 'safe' popcorn out there for pet birds.
Any suggestions?

 

[antoinette]

Mishka absolutely loves popcorn, I used to give it to him as treats when training him. However these days he refuses treats when training, so I offer popcorn to him twice a week.

Birds enjoy snacking on popcorn! You can serve your bird either popped or unpopped kernels. If you serve the popcorn unpopped, boil the kernels for a bit in plain water to soften the tough hulls. If you wish, you can pop the kernels for your bird using a very light amount of pure vegetable oil.

Never ever give your bird microwave popcorn. These varieties are extremely high in fat and salt, which can be harmful for your bird.

 

[crimson]

thank you, I will pass on the info to her.

 

[aliray]

I just buy a bag of pop corn kernals and put a few in a microwave safe covered pot and no oil and no salt just pop for a minute or a minute and thirty seconds and it pops quite nicley and the birds love it. There is no reason to use oil on it.

 

[wenz2712]

I have never thought of Popcorn, but I am going to try some for Codie He is just so fussy with his food

 

[Oedipussrex]

definetly not flavoured or microwaved popcorn. But we have a popcorn machine so all we need is dehydrated corn so i know its 100% ok pickle loves popcorn

*edit - im pretty sure the machine has tefflon in it, so thats the only thing for me to look out for

 

[crimson]

I never thought of popcorn either...guess I'll be getting some for my birds

 

[MikeyTN]

We use popcorn machine too so it's unflavored and unsalted. I've been giving popcorn to my birds for many years as they love them. They get excited when they see me bringing them popcorn.

 

[aliray]

Woops sorry just reread my post and I forgot to say that the pot I use in the microwave has a plastic cover on it otherwise you will have popcorn all over the inside of the microwave

 

[antoinette]

I have never thought of Popcorn, but I am going to try some for Codie He is just so fussy with his food

Codie will love the popcorn Sis......

 

[antoinette]

When Mishka hears the popcorn machine he goes beserk, and I mean beserk.

It is the cutest thing when he hears the machine...
He screams mommy is making popcorn
I want some popcorn please

 

[MoMoMilitaryMac]

Try using a brown paper bag to pop the corn in the microwave. Thats how my mom pops hers. Im going to try giving my guys some today!

 

[LeaKP]

Yup, Peep will nibble on popcorn. This diva of a bird only nibbles most things except for mushy food - then, it's beak all-in. Messy, messy, fun, full. Then sleep.

 

[Colorguarder08]

I haven't tried it with Riley. I have a hot air popper so I just buy some big bags of kernals use the measuring cup it comes with and pop an entire bowl in a few minutes. Its kind of fun to watch cause at first the kernels are bouncing up and down and if one or two escape before they start popping I throw them back in. I will have to try it. I know this kind of popcorn is a great low calorie snack something which microwave popcorn definately is not

 

[Allee]

I use an air popper, my parrots get so excited when they hear it popping. My dogs like it too, so everyone has fun.

 

[MrsKay]

I never feed popcorn. I just think there are too many other treats with more nutritional value

 

[SolarEclipse]

Where do u get unbuttered/unsalted popcorn? All I see is microwave popcorn >.<