adding protein to game feed

[jenjscott]

generally 20% is acceptable after 21 weeks, and 22% will work before that without affecting too much the growth and laying. (japanese quail) 27% was found to be optimal in bobwhite quail for optimum rapid weight gain . Although some lines of japanese quail were developed to grow out well on 20%. So if you are producing table birds, higher protein gives you a bigger bird earlier, Otherwise, a 20% protein will still give you an acceptable bird, a little slower to develop.
Here you will find people feeding much higher, up to 30% protein, to the chicks. Based on these studies, 24% should be plenty.

 

[magsrags]

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Thank you! I will stick with this feed then and just supplement with eggs occasionally.
Stopped turning them yesterday! 16 eggs and I am patiently awaiting their big break out!

 

[Emilys3guppies]

My own birds are fed 20% chick starter. When I get lax on adding the extra protein I definately notice that my grown hens pick at each other more and the birds get bald spots.

Do you think they can become accostomed to a certain amount of protein and then demand it that way? I haven't noticed picking with the birds I hatched myself...and they have been on the same crumbles since they were hatched. I have noticed that the girls I bought as 7-8 week olds do pick if they don't get the extra protein though. Could it be that they were fed a higher protein ration and, as I changed their diets slightly, they still want that?

 

[JJMR794]

Quail Should Have A Gamebird Formula, Not Regular Chick Starter--- Regular Chick Starter Can Cause Constipation Or Diarrhea In Game Bird Speces--- Results Depends On The Food Itself And The Bird---- Constipation= The Babies Dies. Diarrhea= Pasty Butt And The Baby Dies, Or You Spend Every Evening For 2 Mos Washing Quail Butts And Hoping They Dont Accidentally Drowned....

 

[shelleyd2008]

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I feed my buttons the 20% flock raiser. I tried to switch them to the game bird feed when I started the coturnix on it, and the buttons stopped laying. Put them back on the 20% and they started right back up. I think it's in large part due to what they're used to, I was feeding all mine the 20% until laying really kicked in, then I upped the protein. They (coturnix) were laying much more consistently with the higher protein, just about an egg everyday from every hen.

 

[shelleyd2008]

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The feed I give my quail chicks is Purina Flock Raiser (20%) and I've never had a problem with pasty butt or constipation with the quail.

 

[JJMR794]

Then Either The Flock Raiser Is Doing Well For You Or So Far You've Just Been Lucky--- And Now That You've Bragged...... Lol

 

[JJMR794]

Personally All I Feed Is The Purina Feeds, But I Dont Like The Flock Raiser... Chickens Get The 16% Layer Crumbles And Scratch Grain Mix.... Quail And Pheasants Get Startrena 30% Gamebird Starter For Their Entire Lifetime.... And Yes If You Change They Will Stop Laying For A Time..... But They Acclimate Soon Enough And Start Back To Laying...

 

[shelleyd2008]

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I get the startena for my adult coturnix, but mine is only 24%??

And I'm aware of the feed thing, but the buttons are so touchy!! I'd just rather keep them happy, changing feed on the coturnix didn't bother them one bit!

 

[shelleyd2008]

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