CAN CHICKENS EAT POPPED POPCORN?
By Zakaria Makori
Yes, chicken can eat popped popcorns, and they enjoy doing it as it reduces boredom to such birds. Typically, the popcorns should be popped and unsalted because salt is quite harmful to the feathered pets’ health. Popcorn treats are so delicious and healthy, without the addition of any spice. Chickens popped popcorns is an essential source of fibre and magnesium.
Not all the popcorns are essential for feeding the chickens, but there is a selection of popcorns that are safe for chickens. Kernels that are popping in a microwave have almost no Sodium and no saturated salt. Microwave popped popcorns variety is best for the chicken over those theatre selections that are mostly processed and contain some additives and spices.
Popcorn is essential for chickens feeding because they contain the following essential body nutrients to chicken. One popcorn has the following components: Calories 110 (459kJ), calories from fat 12% daily value 1, 1.3g of 2% total fat, 0.2g of not less than 1% of Sat. Fat, 0mg of 0% Cholesterol, 2mg of not less than 1% of Sodium, 22.1g of 7% Total Carbs, 0.2g of sugar, 3.7g of Protein, 2mg of Calcium and 93.3mg of Potassium.
Popcorn Nutrition Factors
Studies conducted show that about the various benefits of whole grain consumption and shows how they reduce inflammation and decreases the risk of heart diseases. The following is the nutrient content of a 100-gram (3.5-oz) serving of air-popped Popcorn. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): 7% of the RID, Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 12% of the RDI, Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): 8% of the RDI, Iron: 18% of the RDI, Magnesium: 36% of the RDI, Phosphorus: 36% of RDI, Potassium: 9% of the RDI, Zinc: 21% of RDI, Copper: 13% of the RBD and Manganese: 56% of the RDI. Typically, all these composition totals 387 calories, 13 grams of protein, and 78 grams of carbs and 5 grams of fat.
The serving also contains 15 grams of fibre which is exceptionally high hence makes it one of the world’s best sources of fibre. Therefore, Popcorn is a whole grain food which contains high vital nutrients which includes vitamins, minerals and very high amounts of fibre as discussed below. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Popcorns is high in Polyphenol Antioxidants
A study done at the University of Scranton shows that popcorns contain a large number of Polyphenols are antioxidants which protect the body cells of chicken from damage by free radicals. Polyphenols provide various health benefits that include better blood circulation, reduce the risk of many diseases and improvement indigestion. Therefore, Popcorn consists of a higher percentage of polyphenol antioxidants. Polyphenol antioxidants are plant compounds that articulate to many health benefits of chicken.
Popcorn is very high in fibre
Most importantly, dietary fibre reduces the risk of many diseases like heart disease, obesity to chicken. Fibre also helps in a weight loss of the chicken and improves digestive health. It is a recommendation that chicks should be given 25grams for the chicken. However, most people feed their chicken much less than that. According to research, 100 grams of Popcorn contains 15 grams of fibre, which is crucial in a daily fibre satisfaction of the daily fibre to the chicken. Therefore, Popcorn is very high in fibre, which helps the chicken in weight loss and a reduction in risk of getting chicken diseases.
Eating It May Help With Weight Loss
Feeding chicken with popcorns provides low calories and low energy density. However, these are the weight loss of friendly food characteristics to chicken. Air-popped Popcorn has fewer calories than many chicken feeding foods. Thus, eating Popcorn may make chicken feed on fewer calories, and this helps them in losing weight for the heavy chickens. However, feeding with measurements should be a key because even though it is an essential feeding food than many other feedings, it can also be flattening if the nutrition measurements are not okay.
Pre-packaged microwave popcorn is harmful. Therefore, most microwave bags have a chemical line which is associated with a variety of health problems to the chicken. Studies show that these microwave popcorn also contain diacetyl with a chemical.
Many microwave popcorn ar using harmful Tran’s fats. Studies have articulated Tran’s fats to an increased risk of heart disease and other severe diseases to chicken. Even if some brands free from these chemicals, they should be avoided since it’s so easy to make healthy Popcorn for the chicken. It commercially prepared Popcorn are incredibly high in calories and unhealthy ingredients and therefore should b feeding chicken.
How to Make Healthy Popcorn for the chicken
Popcorns prepared by stoves and air-popped ones are the healthiest to feed the chickens. The following is a description of a simple recipe in the preparation of healthy popcorns to feed the chickens;
Ingredients
- Measure some tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil in a roasting bowl.
- Measure the required amount of popcorn kernels.
Directions
- Place oil and kernels into a large bowl and cover it with a lid.
- Cook them over a fixed amount of heat until they are ready or when the popping almost stops.
- Remove the bowl after turning off the heat when the popped popcorns are ready.
- Empty the bowl by pouring the popped popcorns on a large bowl.
- Allow them to cool and ready to feed your chicken.
If possible, you can also sprinkle it with nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast has a cheesy flavour which contains several essential nutrients, including protein, fibre, B-vitamins and several other minerals which we have seen to be crucial in the feeding of chicken. Therefore, it is clear that the healthiest method to prepare popped Popcorn may be in a pot or air-popper machine.
Popped popcorns with low cholesterol levels contain fibre which removes cholesterol from the blood vessels of the chicken and also reduces the effects of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack hence plays a vital role in the health status of the feathered friends, chicken. Fibres in the popcorns aid in proper movements and prevent constipation as well.
Popcorns also aid in the regulation of release and management of blood sugar and insulin level in the body of the chicken. The control maintains the levels of blood sugar, therefore, making the health status to be impressive. The feeding also treats muscular degeneration and blindness, muscle weakness and feather loss.
Antioxidants present in the popcorns keep chicken health and also inhibits the release of the hunger hormone. Manganese in the popcorns also helps build and maintain dense and healthy bones. Iron in popcorns and being in fibre content that effortlessly gets digested and it won’t cause a sudden blood sugar spike.
Chicken feeding has various challenges when not fed well. A problem of feeding on eggs might be due to improper nutrition. The following can be some of the reason that leads to such challenges:
Improper diet. Lack of vitamin D, calcium and Protein, the feathered pets starts feeding at eggs to gain the required body nutrients. This issue can be cub by just ensuring a proper feeding of the chicken with an adequate amount of popped popcorns.
Stress; which I caused by intimidating chicken also leads to feeding on the eggs to settle in such disturbing behaviour, and this should always be taken into consideration though it is a minor issue.
Insufficient water intake; thirsty chicken makes their bodies get dehydrated, and they, therefore, feed on their eggs to get rid of the thirst for their liquid. Therefore chicken should always be provided with water after they have been property supplied with the popped popcorns.
How does this problem curb?
- Make sure to collect the eggs regularly and always ensure they are fed well with popped popcorns.
- Locate well and feed broody hens with popped popcorns in a different area to ensure other chickens are not intimidated. The separation will ensure there is a mutual feeding of the chicken, thus helps in providing a serene environment for the chicken.
- Always ensure that special attention is given to your pets’ to ensure your chickens’ dietary needs are proper. The special attention can be through feeding the chicken with popped popcorns always.
- Nesting area should be smooth enough and positioned well to ensure the naughty chicken does not break the eggs due to their energy provided by the feeding hence active.
- Always make sure the chickens won’t associate eggs with eating. Feeding chicken daily with popped popcorns is so essential and beneficial to the body health, which aids in breaking the behaviour of just feeding on eggs.
- Ensure the conditions of preparing the popped popcorns and feeding is best. Better feeding procedures will make the chicken calm in feeding the provided food to them. Therefore, ensuring harmony and depriving off stress to the chicken.