Corn (Zea mays)

Corn

Corn (Zea mays), also referred to as maize, is especially popular with budgies and other pet birds. It is a species in the family of grasses (Poaceae) that has been cultivated by humans for a long time. Initially it was grown in Central Mexico, later it was brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus. It was first grown here in 1525 in Spain.

By now several cultivated breeds exist like flint maize, starch corn and sweet corn. For pet birds the types usually found in supermarkets for human consumption are suitable as well. Corn ripens in summer and is then sold. It can also be found in the form of corn waffles (article currently only available in German).

Usable parts of the plant

Pet birds prefer to eat the kernels in half-ripe or ripe state. Usually, it can be said that the more sweet and juicy, the more popular. Some larger parrots also like to eat the ripe and dried corn kernels that can be found broken up in some pre-mixed bird foods.

If you want to harvest corn yourself, be careful: The corn stylus is poisonous. This means you should never feed flowering corn to your pet birds!

Conserving fresh corn

Corn cobs are very well suited to be frozen in smaller portions to always have some fresh food available for your pet birds, even in winter. You can learn more in this chapter of Birds-online.de (currently only available in German).