➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[RUNuts]

Just returned from getting feed. Of all places, TSC got in some 24% feed. It’s better than the 20% I had to give them. Even though it was generic, it was $18/bag. Quail don’t eat much, but it sure hurts buying their feed.
Duckling said I can eat the quail because then she can incubate!

Sounds like duckling has the hatching bug! Keep her away from Kiki before it gets worse.

 

[R2elk]

Oh yes... I wasn’t thinking. That would explain it. I had looked before and it seemed to me (tho unclear) that coturnix were not on the list but I couldn’t find the same place, and the place I did find just says “quail.” So who knows? I’ll call them and ask, but the chances of talking to someone who knows aren’t likely much better than my own chances of figuring out the down-low online.

Your local game warden is paid to know the G&F laws.

Reminds me: R2Elk I looked up those amino acids you warned about the quail needing (in an earlier post) that weren’t in lower protein feeds. They’re all three abundant in eggs (and elsewhere, but eggs seemed easiest.) Could a person make up the lack by feeding a daily portion of scrambled or mashed boiled eggs to the quail? Best I could find at Running’s was broiler or turkey feed. They don’t carry game bird feed, or at least not when I was looking. I didn’t see waterfowl feed, either (they do have brewers yeast).

Lysine and niacin are B vitamins and can be provided by adding one half capsule or tablet of a quality vitamin B complex to one gallon of water. It needs to be the only additive in the water and should be made fresh daily. BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) is a good source of methionine but care must be used since BOSS is a low protein, high fat food.

Eggs are a good source of high quality protein but it is only 12% protein.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/protein-in-egg

Proper turkey feed will be the same as game bird feed and most companies list their turkey feed as turkey or game bird feed. Turkey poults also have the same nutrition requirements as game birds although adult turkeys have lower requirements than adult quail.

 

[Crazydoglady99]

 

[Crazydoglady99]

Hey @CindyinSD

Can you source things like frozen or dried insects, or insect powder?
Insects are especially high in the amino acids young birds require (nature is clever hey?).

 

[BullChick]

How do people have drop down doors on the hutches, and not have quail fly out?
How long does it take for quail to get used to a new person?

 

[CindyinSD]

Thanks, R2! Really helpful! (As always)
Crazydoglady, I didn’t know dried insect powder existed!
. What a concept! I’ll have a look around. I do get dried mealworms for my chickens. Thanks!

 

[RUNuts]

How do people have drop down doors on the hutches, and not have quail fly out?
How long does it take for quail to get used to a new person?

Drop down doors - the quail normally don't attack you in the face. Normally, if they do, rely on reflexes to catch them in the air - like a fly ball. Do you play baseball? How are your reflexes and hand eye coordination?

Or chase them with a net and collect them back to the coop. I've done both. What kind of door do you recommend?

 

[Crazydoglady99]

Dried mealworms = perfect. Just crush them up in your fingers to quail crumb size. Cricket powder is awesome too.

Quail luuurrrvvve boiled mashed eggs. Chickens too. Its part of every breakfast over here!

 

[BullChick]

View attachment 1697666
Drop down doors - the quail normally don't attack you in the face. Normally, if they do, rely on reflexes to catch them in the air - like a fly ball. Do you play baseball? How are your reflexes and hand eye coordination?

Or chase them with a net and collect them back to the coop. I've done both. What kind of door do you recommend?

I’m not into catching birds if I don’t have to. I like the cabinet style doors. I just know drop down is easier with my hutch since that’s what it had when I got it. Now if only I can find all the pieces I took off. The boxes are easy to find, but the walls, roof, flooring and divider is anyone’s guess after 7 years.

 

[BullChick]

When will the quail get used to Duckling? I actually had the pooper scooper* in there earlier, turning the bedding. They were all jumping on it, and letting me scoop them up! They weren’t loud, just curious as to what I had. They see Duckling**, and get nervous.
*Word of the day, “pooper scooper!” From the moment I told her what we needed at TSC. She said it over and over... before using it outside, I put it to use in the brooder.
**Duckling wasn’t around them for the first two weeks when they were too tiny to let her hold.