VERY QUICK IMPORTANT QUESTION ABOUT POPCORN

[Safamirza🤍]

hello! I have a 7 month old male cockatiel named Kiko.

I have a very short question about birds and popcorn. So the other day my brother was eating popcorn and Kiko snatched it from him to try it and now he is going insane over popcorn. He’s so nuts over popcorn now that he’s biting our mouth and trying to get it out of our mouth if we don’t give it to him! Below I attached a pic of the exact popcorn he ate. Is the ingredients safe for birds? (Just as a treat sometimes.)

Is it better if I buy plain kernels with no salt and butter and just make popcorn for him with that?

Thanks to anyone who replies!!

 

[Safamirza🤍]

hello! I have a 7 month old male cockatiel named Kiko.

I have a very short question about birds and popcorn. So the other day my brother was eating popcorn and Kiko snatched it from him to try it and now he is going insane over popcorn. He’s so nuts over popcorn now that he’s biting our mouth and trying to get it out of our mouth if we don’t give it to him! Below I attached a pic of the exact popcorn he ate. Is the ingredients safe for birds? (Just as a treat sometimes.)

Is it better if I buy plain kernels with no salt and butter and just make popcorn for him with that?

Thanks to anyone who replies!!

He’s also for some reason not interested if I break off a little bit of popcorn for him, he just nibbles on that. He goes crazy over a whole piece of popcorn

 

[chris-md]

Given rarely (once a month or so), a kernel or two this popcorn won’t hurt. Junk food, but not toxic.

Plain popcorn is actually quite good for them and could be a great addition to diet. I used it for a training treat for a while when I was speech training my eclectus.

 

[Safamirza🤍]

Given rarely (once a month or so), a kernel or two this popcorn won’t hurt. Junk food, but not toxic.

Plain popcorn is actually quite good for them and could be a great addition to diet. I used it for a training treat for a while when I was speech training my eclectus.

Could you please recommend some other types of “snacks” for birds that are safe? I heard birds like crackers a lot but I don’t know what kind is meant for birds.

 

[Terry57]

My birds go nuts over plain popcorn popped in a hot air popper. Sometimes after it pops I add chili flakes or cayenne pepper and they love that too.

 

[chris-md]

Being a cockatiel owner you aren’t so restricted like Ekkie owners such as myself and Terry are. Any number of treats out there would be great, like nutriberries, avicakes, millet….the list goes on. You can waltz into just about any pet store and find great treats!

 

[Terry57]

My birds go nuts over plain popcorn popped in a hot air popper. Sometimes after it pops I add chili flakes or cayenne pepper and they love that too.

I wanted to add that my popcorn maker is made of some kind of plastic, but I'm not sure if it is safe around my birds. I use it on my enclosed back porch.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Many people in my parrot club make homemade popcorn, sans butter and salt, for their birds. Cockatiels love it stringed together on a shoelace, so they have to climb to eat it

If you get cheerios, that's a good treat. Just regular cheerios. I string it up on a shoelace, also, and they go bonkers for it!

 

[Safamirza🤍]

I wanted to add that my popcorn maker is made of some kind of plastic, but I'm not sure if it is safe around my birds. I use it on my enclosed back porch.

I don’t have a popcorn maker, but I have made popcorn before on a stove with a pot

 

[SailBoat]

Our Amazon loves fresh popped corn from the stove top and will be ready the moment its ready. The problem with Microwave Popcorn is that it commonly has salt and a chemical that some call butter. Those additions is where the problem resides. Plain popcorn is always the best choice.

 

[Safamirza🤍]

Our Amazon loves fresh popped corn from the stove top and will be ready the moment its ready. The problem with Microwave Popcorn is that it commonly has salt and a chemical that some call butter. Those additions is where the problem resides. Plain popcorn is always the best choice.

I tried to make it today on the stove and the popcorn is burning, but some of it is popping fine. Do you think it’s bc it’s just plain popcorn without butter and oil? Is it OK to use unsalted butter or is there a type of oil that is safe for birds? Thanks if u reply

 

[SailBoat]

I use a speciality Corn Popping Oil and keep the amount on the limited size.
Far too many people believe that Popping Corn is simple and as a result burning is far more common than it should be. Like all cooking, it requires that you are there and as soon as the popping slows down its time to pull the pan and dump it into a bowl.
Consider air-popper like from the 80's of 90's it will help.

Butter or Butter flavored oil is not recommended for Parrots.

 

[HeatherG]

I bought an air popper so I could make lighter popcorn for me AND my birds. But I think a little oil used to heat the kernels isn’t the end of the world.

Also you can put a couple tablespoons of popcorn in a brown paper bag with one staple and pop it in a microwave. You can find directions to do that online.

Maybe Kiko wants HIS OWN PIECE. My Lucy always wanted her OWN CHEERIO, and not an “o” that someone broke off.

Popcorn questions are ALWAYS exciting and important! What could be more important than popcorn?

 

[Jadetober]

We brought a cheap simple popcorn machine that uses no oils and literally pop dried corn, it's quick easy and no waste or mess. I hope the link is ok!

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Domestic-King-Popcorn-Measuring-Electric/dp/B09N44MHZM/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=TAO38L04VDEV&keywords=popcorn+machine&qid=1655884764&sprefix=Popcor%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&smid=A2IP3H5IKND4MY&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzS0JSR1JENVcxSVAzJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjQ5Nzg1RFE2OUVTRVo2MDBMJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAzODA5MDAyRVZYT1lQMlNSU0tIJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

[Safamirza🤍]

I bought an air popper so I could make lighter popcorn for me AND my birds. But I think a little oil used to heat the kernels isn’t the end of the world.

Also you can put a couple tablespoons of popcorn in a brown paper bag with one staple and pop it in a microwave. You can find directions to do that online.

Maybe Kiko wants HIS OWN PIECE. My Lucy always wanted her OWN CHEERIO, and not an “o” that someone broke off.

Popcorn questions are ALWAYS exciting and important! What could be more important than popcorn?

Yesterday I tried putting the kernels in a paper bag and they came out perfect in the microwave without oil! and yes, he wants his own piece of popcorn. He never eats the tiny pieces I give him.

 

[Tenleigh]

hello! I have a 7 month old male cockatiel named Kiko.

I have a very short question about birds and popcorn. So the other day my brother was eating popcorn and Kiko snatched it from him to try it and now he is going insane over popcorn. He’s so nuts over popcorn now that he’s biting our mouth and trying to get it out of our mouth if we don’t give it to him! Below I attached a pic of the exact popcorn he ate. Is the ingredients safe for birds? (Just as a treat sometimes.)

Is it better if I buy plain kernels with no salt and butter and just make popcorn for him with that?

Thanks to anyone who replies!!

My cockatiel loves popcorn too! I only give them popcorn rarely. It’s super important not to have any salt or butter on the popcorn you give your bird!!

 

[HeatherG]

I need to start treating my guys with popcorn. I notice that the waiting period while the corn heats up and pops is very exciting and important to proper bird enjoyment of popcorn!

 

[Safamirza🤍]

I need to start treating my guys with popcorn. I notice that the waiting period while the corn heats up and pops is very exciting and important to proper bird enjoyment of popcorn!

I don't mind eating plain popcorn, so sometimes I make some and watch a movie with Kiko

Also, this is very off-topic to this post but I didn't wanna make a whole new post; what does it mean when a bird is squinting its eyes?

 

[HeatherG]

It’s looking closer at something?
It’s tired?

 

[Safamirza🤍]

It’s looking closer at something?
It’s tired?

Can it be a sign of sickness?