My Adult Coturnix Females Are Eating Poops

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jumbocoturnix

jumbocoturnix

In the Brooder
Apr 4, 2016
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My Coturnix females are laying eggs, but it has strangely slowed down for now. I am feeding them a layer feed ration. My only concern right now is for the couple of days they are starting to eat their own poop. Is there a lack of calcium? Why are they doing this? I would greatly appreciate your help.


Thanks!
 
As ChickenLegs said, most layer feeds have too little protein for coturnix quail. I believe I read egg production will suffer if they get less than 24% protein. This is usually only available in game bird and turkey starters. And starter feeds don't have enough calcium, so you'll want to supply them with another source of calcium. I grind oyster shell for my button quail and supply that in a separate dish so they can dose it themselves.
Stress will also cause reduced egg laying, so if anything stressing happened recently, that might be part of the cause.
 
I would get a new feed, yes. For the calcium, I'm guessing it's about the same as for chickens and I think chicken layers has 2.5% or something like that - not too sure though. But as I said, you usually can't get both protein and calcium right in the same feed, so the easiest way to go is to supply them with extra calcium in a separate dish. By giving them a separate dish, you are also not forcing your males to eat it, too much calcium puts strain on the organs.
 
jumbocoturnix said:
I think protein is less than 20%. Should I purchase a new feed? Thanks!
Click to expand...


Yes. Something labled for gamebirds. I use the DuMor 24% turkey/quail/chick starter for my butcher birds. It's not THE BEST for layer/breeders though but works good nuff for me.


jumbocoturnix said:
What % of calcium is recommended for egg laying Jumbo Coturnix? Thanks!
Click to expand...


Purina Gamebird Layene is around 3.5%, bout the same is any other layer feed.
 
Last edited:
ChickenLegs13 said:
Yes. Something labled for gamebirds. I use the DuMor 24% turkey/quail/chick starter for my butcher birds. It's not THE BEST for layer/breeders though but works good nuff for me.
Purina Gamebird Layene is around 3.5%, bout the same is any other layer feed.
Click to expand...

DK newbie said:
I would get a new feed, yes. For the calcium, I'm guessing it's about the same as for chickens and I think chicken layers has 2.5% or something like that - not too sure though. But as I said, you usually can't get both protein and calcium right in the same feed, so the easiest way to go is to supply them with extra calcium in a separate dish. By giving them a separate dish, you are also not forcing your males to eat it, too much calcium puts strain on the organs.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I appreciate!

 

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