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How do I increase protein in chick feed?

post #1 of 21
8/26/11 at 2:08pm
Thread Starter 

I've been looking for somewhere that sell game bird starter feed in the UK and I have absolutely no idea where to get it from. I've heard you can add things to normal chick starter to increase the protein from about 20% to the required 30%, but I have no idea what to add to it.

Does anyone also have any idea what % protein adult quail require? Most layers pellets are about 15%, so I think I will have to supplement their diet as well.

Japanese quail in the pic is Nightingale, one of the two quail at my college (named Sparrow and Nightingale )
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Japanese quail in the pic is Nightingale, one of the two quail at my college (named Sparrow and Nightingale )
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post #2 of 21
8/26/11 at 3:32pm

I wouldn't go the layer feed route as it has too much calcium for the growing babies. And I would stay away from meal worms as that can start toe picking. If you can find dried crickets on line without the gut loaded calcium, that would definitely boost the protein.  If all you can find is chicken chick starter, you can hard boil up some eggs and feed the crumbled up egg a couple times a day. That should boost up the protein from 20% to near 30% which is what growing quail babies need. Good luck! smile

Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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post #3 of 21
8/26/11 at 3:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by twocrowsranch 

I wouldn't go the layer feed route as it has too much calcium for the growing babies. And I would stay away from meal worms as that can start toe picking. If you can find dried crickets on line without the gut loaded calcium, that would definitely boost the protein.  If all you can find is chicken chick starter, you can hard boil up some eggs and feed the crumbled up egg a couple times a day. That should boost up the protein from 20% to near 30% which is what growing quail babies need. Good luck! smile


Thank you!! I did wonder if you could use hard boiled egg, as I know that has protein and can be fed to adult birds, but I wasn't sure about use with little chicks. I hadn't heard about using dried crickets before, but that'll definitely be something I'll look into!! big_smile Can you use meal worms and boiled egg to give the adults some extra protein as well? I don't think that chicken layers pellets has enough for them, so I wondered what I could supplement it with.

Japanese quail in the pic is Nightingale, one of the two quail at my college (named Sparrow and Nightingale )
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Japanese quail in the pic is Nightingale, one of the two quail at my college (named Sparrow and Nightingale )
Reply
post #4 of 21
8/26/11 at 5:41pm

Yes, you can offer meal worms to adults as they are less likely to pick toes and feet, although watch them closely. I have one male that has started in with the toe and leg biting and I was feeding the pair meal worms. Eggs are great for adults also, along with any dried or live bugs. You can also offer them alfalfa hay, the leaves are very high in protein. I have also heard of alfalfa meal which I have never used. It comes in the ground form and you could mix that into the feed to up the protein also. smile

Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

Reply

Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

Reply
post #5 of 21
8/26/11 at 6:06pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by twocrowsranch 

Yes, you can offer meal worms to adults as they are less likely to pick toes and feet, although watch them closely. I have one male that has started in with the toe and leg biting and I was feeding the pair meal worms. Eggs are great for adults also, along with any dried or live bugs. You can also offer them alfalfa hay, the leaves are very high in protein. I have also heard of alfalfa meal which I have never used. It comes in the ground form and you could mix that into the feed to up the protein also. smile


I didn't realise that alfalfa could be a good source of protein. Do you think that the alfalfa meal could be something I could use with quail chicks to up the protein? I know some people on here don't like to mess with the diet of young birds too much, but I really can't get a hold of complete feed that has enough protein. Thanks for the ideas, though!! big_smile

Japanese quail in the pic is Nightingale, one of the two quail at my college (named Sparrow and Nightingale )
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Japanese quail in the pic is Nightingale, one of the two quail at my college (named Sparrow and Nightingale )
Reply
post #6 of 21
8/26/11 at 7:00pm

3 Words.....

Soy
Bean
Meal


smile

I'm Not Yelling!... Thanx Anyway, But Its The Best Way For Me To Read The Print On The Screen.....LF Cochins, SERAMA, RINGNECK AND RUFFED PHEASANTS, MEL. MUTANT RINGNECKS, BLUE SLATE TURKEYS, MALLARDS, WOOD DUCKS, ROUENS, BUTLER BOB WHITES, COTURNIX. PM ME FOR EGG AVAILABILITIES!
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I'm Not Yelling!... Thanx Anyway, But Its The Best Way For Me To Read The Print On The Screen.....LF Cochins, SERAMA, RINGNECK AND RUFFED PHEASANTS, MEL. MUTANT RINGNECKS, BLUE SLATE TURKEYS, MALLARDS, WOOD DUCKS, ROUENS, BUTLER BOB WHITES, COTURNIX. PM ME FOR EGG AVAILABILITIES!
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post #7 of 21
8/26/11 at 8:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JJMR794 

3 Words.....

Soy
Bean
Meal


smile


X2 mix soy bean meal with the starter and you're good to go. Much easier than mixing eggs and assorted bugs. big_smile

Hi, I'm Robert and I'm currently raising:Buff Orpingtons, Silkies, Coturnix Quail, 6 Welsummers, 6 Jersey Giants, 3 White Leghorns, and 3 RIR's.  PM me for eggs
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Hi, I'm Robert and I'm currently raising:Buff Orpingtons, Silkies, Coturnix Quail, 6 Welsummers, 6 Jersey Giants, 3 White Leghorns, and 3 RIR's.  PM me for eggs
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post #8 of 21
8/27/11 at 5:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gamebirdboy 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JJMR794 

3 Words.....

Soy
Bean
Meal


smile


X2 mix soy bean meal with the starter and you're good to go. Much easier than mixing eggs and assorted bugs. big_smile


Yeah, I figured that would be the easiest way. Only problem is, I don't know anywhere near me that sells it sad That was why I was trying to find other methods of boosting the protein to the right levels.

Japanese quail in the pic is Nightingale, one of the two quail at my college (named Sparrow and Nightingale )
Reply
Japanese quail in the pic is Nightingale, one of the two quail at my college (named Sparrow and Nightingale )
Reply
post #9 of 21
8/27/11 at 6:30am

Soy bean meal? / ? is yes you can buy I know. My bro farms several 1000 ac and I can get all I want (soybeans) free. My ?  is can you just grind it up and use ? Or do you have to roast it or something and then grind??...cva34

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post #10 of 21
8/27/11 at 10:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cva34 

Soy bean meal? / ? is yes you can buy I know. My bro farms several 1000 ac and I can get all I want (soybeans) free. My ?  is can you just grind it up and use ? Or do you have to roast it or something and then grind??...cva34


IT MUST BE PROCESSED... STEAMED OR ROASTED SOMEHOW. IN THEIR RAW STATE THEY CONTAIN SOME SORT OF ENZYME THAT PREVENTS THE PROTIEN FROM BEING DIGESTED. I'D RECOMEND RESEARCHING IT ON THE WEB. ONCE READY FOR USE--- USE SPARINGLY AS SOYBEAN MEAL IS RATED AT ROUGHLY 50% PROTIEN

I'm Not Yelling!... Thanx Anyway, But Its The Best Way For Me To Read The Print On The Screen.....LF Cochins, SERAMA, RINGNECK AND RUFFED PHEASANTS, MEL. MUTANT RINGNECKS, BLUE SLATE TURKEYS, MALLARDS, WOOD DUCKS, ROUENS, BUTLER BOB WHITES, COTURNIX. PM ME FOR EGG AVAILABILITIES!
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I'm Not Yelling!... Thanx Anyway, But Its The Best Way For Me To Read The Print On The Screen.....LF Cochins, SERAMA, RINGNECK AND RUFFED PHEASANTS, MEL. MUTANT RINGNECKS, BLUE SLATE TURKEYS, MALLARDS, WOOD DUCKS, ROUENS, BUTLER BOB WHITES, COTURNIX. PM ME FOR EGG AVAILABILITIES!
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