You’re all set to watch a movie on your couch while munching on salty, buttery popcorn. However, it appears that your cockatiel has the same idea. You wish you could share your popcorn with your cockatiel, but can you? Can cockatiels eat popcorn?
Yes, cockatiels can eat popcorn. However, your cockatiel should only eat popcorn as a treat; it should not be a regular part of its diet. Also, make sure that it is served without salt, butter, or flavorings, as these can be harmful to cockatiels.
Cockatiels can consume various treats. Because of this, it can be tempting to share the food we love. This is when popcorn comes into play.
Popcorn is one of the many treats and snacks that humans and their pets can enjoy together. However, there are a few things you should be aware of before feeding this to your cockatiel.
If you intend to feed your cockatiel popcorn, you may find the following information beneficial.
Do Cockatiels Like Popcorn?
Cockatiels enjoy various foods, and popcorn is one of them. Sampling different foods are interesting to these birds, and they like to try just about anything.
Most cockatiels like to play with popcorn because of its fun texture. They will chew on it a little but seem more interested in the shape of it.
Other cockatiels can’t get enough of it and eat it right away. No matter how your cockatiel prefers it, popcorn is a safe treat.
Is Popcorn Safe For Cockatiels?
Yes, but moderation is best when it comes to snacks for cockatiels. These birds require the right nutrition to keep them healthy, and most of their illnesses come from an improper diet.
When you consume popcorn, it may be of theater quality, containing butter and salt. But this can be dangerous for your cockatiel. Butter and salt can make them sick.
Popcorn made in the microwave is also full of artificial ingredients and salt. Any bagged popcorn that you buy will usually include ingredients that are safe for people but not for cockatiels.
The safest way to feed popcorn to your cockatiel is to pop it yourself in an air popper. By popping the kernels without oil or butter, you are keeping it free from anything harmful. Your cockatiel can then safely munch away.
See also: Can Cockatiels Eat Asparagus?
Benefits Of Feeding Popcorns To Your Cockatiel
Did you give your cockatiel popcorn, and did they seem to like it? Congratulations! You can now include popcorn in their diet as a threat. But isn’t there anything else you would like to know first? What about the health benefits of popcorn for cockatiels?
Since cockatiels have a small and limited diet, it would be wise to feed them food that would add some nutrients to their body, even as treats. Can popcorn do that? Let’s find out.
To figure out whether popcorn can benefit your cockatiel’s health, you need to learn which nutrients are present in it.
A hundred-gram serving of popcorn includes the following:
- 387 calories
- 13 grams of protein
- 78 grams of carbohydrates
- 5 grams of fat
- 15 grams of fiber
In addition to these components, popcorn also contains numerous vitamins and minerals.
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Zinc
- Copper
- Manganese
Just by looking at this, you can already tell that popcorn offers high amounts of fiber and protein. Both components are excellent for your cockatiel.
Furthermore, the vitamins and minerals work to improve the health of your cockatiel.
How Much Popcorn Should You Give To Your Cockatiel?
Even though popcorn may be good for your cockatiel, you should only give it to it as a treat once in a while. Pellets, fruits, and vegetables should make up most of your cockatiel’s diet. You should only feed your cockatiel treats and snacks once each day, and only one or two treats at a time.
In general, cockatiels should eat 30 to 40 grams of food per day.
Thus, you can give your cockatiel a few popcorn kernels (3 to 4 grams) once or twice a week, provided that it’s air-popped and lacks any topping.
You can pop the popcorn, pull out a few kernels for your cockatiel, and then add whatever toppings you want to the rest. This way, you are both happy!
See also: Can Cockatiels Eat Apples?
Are There Any Risks To Giving Popcorn To Cockatiels?
Popcorn qualifies as a treat for your cockatiel. While popcorn is healthy and nutritious, several of its components can be harmful to your cockatiel.
Consider each of these dangers in detail.
Popcorn with toppings
Popcorn is safe and nutritious in and of itself. However, the extra seasonings can be harmful to your cockatiel.
The flavor of most popcorn is enhanced with butter, salt, and other seasonings. While we may be able to tolerate it, it is not healthy for our pets.
You should therefore avoid serving popcorn with seasonings and butter. If you are cooking popcorn for yourself, you can prepare some plain kernels for your cockatiel. After that, feel free to sprinkle flavoring on your portion.
Microwave
PFOA, which is used to make non-stick coatings for cookware, may be in microwave popcorn packets. Cockatiels can die from PFOA. In fact, if you leave a PFOA-containings nonstick skillet on high heat, the fumes can kill cockatiels
Also, microwave popcorn is full of artificial ingredients like salt and flavorings that are bad for your cockatiel’s health. It is best to refrain from feeding your cockatiel any microwave popcorn.
Too much popcorn
Too much popcorn can be harmful to your cockatiel’s health. As was already said, cockatiels eat about 30 to 40 grams of food every day, on average.
Since popcorn is a snack, it should only account for 10% of your cockatiel’s daily calorie intake. This is roughly 3 to 4 grams every day.
Giving your cockatiel too much popcorn is unhealthy. Similar to humans, cockatiels require nutrients from their main food source. Cockatiels should consume more pellets and a variety of vegetables. These two foods should make up a significant portion of their diet.
Conclusion
If you give your cockatiel simply one or two kernels of plain, air-popped popcorn a few times a week, then air-popped popcorn is safe for your cockatiel. You should avoid microwave popcorn!
You can make stovetop popcorn that is much healthier, but it will probably still have oil in it, which your cockatiel does not need.
Always consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your cockatiel’s health or about which treats and foods are safe and which are not. They can alleviate any concerns you might have.
In that way, you will be confident that you are taking exceptional care of your cockatiel and that it will live a long life.
