Do Pigeons Eat Popcorn? All You Need To Know

Columbidae is a bird family consisting of pigeons and doves. It is the only family in the order Columbiformes. Like many bird species, pigeons have distinct personality types. If you want to attract certain kinds of pigeons, it’s important that you understand what draws them in and what type of seed they love the most.

When feeding pigeons, choose healthy options. Many pigeons seed mixes contain sugary fillers that can be harmful. Keep reading this article to know if the pigeons eat popcorns!

What is Popcorn?

By definition, popcorn is a type of maize that’s specifically been bred for popping. However, what most people know as popcorn isn’t actually popcorn at all—it’s corn (maize) kernels. For example, unpopped corn kernels are referred to as corn on the cob.

Popcorn is actually one of the most popular choices when it comes to bird food because of its small size and ability to hold its texture while also being easy for birds to eat but the question is do pigeons eat popcorn?

The simple answer is yes! Pigeons eat popcorn but they are restricted to specifically plain popcorn and it is very nutritious.

Corn vs Popcorn

The question which majorly arises is that do pigeons eat popcorn so the answer to this question is that pigeons eat popcorn and it is very specified to the popped version of corn. When its about popcorn, it is un-popped and its form is in hard kernel.

The bird will only able to eat dependent on the size of the popcorn. Birds ranging from medium to large size such as jays, woodpeckers or any of the crow family. The pigeons are able to consume raw kernels.

Medium to larger sized birds like jays, woodpeckers, any of the crow family and pigeons are able to consume ‘raw’ kernels. The process of making the hard kernel is very easy. Hard kernel are soaked in water until they soften. These kernels are long and they pop open to reveal a smaller but softer interior.

Popcorn is a processed product which does not occur in wild. The application of heat to corn kernels makes the water in them expand causing them to pop. The popcorn is a processed food and the only way the pigeon eat popcorn is to be provided by owners only. This is considered as the most rubbish food discarded by humans on the street, so if the pigeons get the opportunity to eat popcorn. They will eat the popcorn.

Pigeons and Popcorn

The owners fed popcorns to all the types of pigeons in a domestic habitat. One of the most important things is to provide the right kind of popcorn to the pigeons. The simple air-popped kernels are considered as the best popcorn.

The popcorns that are easily sourced are plain, unadulterated kernels. The microwavable popcorn is avoided because it is rare to find a variety that is of pure variety. Every type of popcorn has a different kind of flavourings or additive.

The popcorn that can be sweet or salty are made according to the human taste buds and it is going to be an absolute overload of sugar or sodium for the pigeon.

Is Popcorn Good for Pigeons?

The corn is very nutritious and is a whole grain that means there is a greater nutritional value as compared to the processed corn that is eaten. The world`s greatest source of fibre is corn which helps to keep the pigeon`s gastrointestinal tract functioning well.

The main function is to manage gastro toxins that is used to maintain the optimal gut heath of pigeons. The diet of pigeon contains the carbohydrates which is needed for energy as well as proteins and a small amount of fat.

The plain popcorn will provide good amount of vitamins that a pigeon need. The list of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are present in popcorn are:

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Manganese
Copper
Iron
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Zinc

The popcorn are also high in polyphenols. These are plant-based compounds that have various health benefits. Polyphenols have an antioxidant properities and that helps to protect the cell from free radicals and can do harm in many ways.

Adding Popcorn to the Pigeon Diet

As the pigeons are granivorous birds. The pigeon`s beak are designed in such a way that they are able to consume seeds, grains, nuts and berries. One of the best pigeon food is corn which is also a grain.

The grain is easily digestible and is low in crude fibre. The pigeon food also contains 25% corn but this will be in the form of kernels and flakes. This is the reason the popcorn are not feed to pigeons as a healthy snack.

Pigeons are intelligent birds and they stimulate something new to tackle the situation. Chopped fruit and vegetables add a treat to pigeons occasionally.

Pigeons Diet

Pigeons can eat a variety of foods, including seeds, plants, nuts and fruit. Pigeons are also one of North America’s most common urban scavengers; in fact, you’ll often see them eating grass seeds in parks.

These birds will eat almost anything that humans consume. Make sure that you only feed your pigeons birdseed (or pellets). A mixture of cracked corn and oats is fine too. If you choose to feed your pigeons bread or other human food products, they could become ill and eventually die from it.

You should also avoid offering foods that may be harmful to your flock. For example, do not give them chocolate or alcohol because both substances are toxic for pigeons!

What Do Pigeons Eat in Wild?

They love grains, seeds, fruits and vegetables—in fact, they’ll eat just about anything. As a matter of fact, they are notorious for eating almost anything that they can find.

Take Away Message

The pigeons enjoy popcorn and are considered as a very good nutritional snack. The popcorn should always be fully popped and does not contain any additional seasonings whether it is salty, sweet, spicy or any other.