Baby quail feeding

[Oob Child]

https://lafeber.com/vet/calcium-in-the-avian-patient/#Calcium_toxicity

"In avian species that have been studied, harmful calcium levels are actually only slightly higher than required levels. Excess dietary calcium leads to minimal absorption of calcium (and other minerals) and elevated serum calcium. Prolonged hypercalcemia may lead to nephrosis and soft tissue mineralization."

Ok I'll get rid of it

 

[Oob Child]

While I am not against the free feeding, in this situation where no research or prep has been done you are just asking for trouble. I really feel it'd be best for the chicks to be fed complete feed.
Being in a rural place in Aus I know how hard it is to find gamebird feed, but several petshops stock the Peckish food and most feed stores will have the 24% chick starter.

There aren't any pet stores near me. So far they seem to be doing alright, though. I've seen them trying all the things they need and am very confident in the fact that they are getting what they need now. If any even small problems arise I will get them proper food immediately, but for now they seem ok.

 

[Ital]

While I am not against the free feeding, in this situation where no research or prep has been done you are just asking for trouble. I really feel it'd be best for the chicks to be fed complete feed.
Being in a rural place in Aus I know how hard it is to find gamebird feed, but several petshops stock the Peckish food and most feed stores will have the 24% chick starter.

Agreed, this would be much easier if the op can afford it but 24% protein isn’t enough at this stage.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

There aren't any pet stores near me. So far they seem to be doing alright, though. I've seen them trying all the things they need and am very confident in the fact that they are getting what they need now. If any even small problems arise I will get them proper food immediately, but for now they seem ok.

What is the chick starter you are feeding now?

 

[LosMolinos]

No no no...don't give babies egg shells. Save those for when they are older and egg laying age.

Why not? I started giving them to my first hatch around 3-4 weeks. I mixed it in their sand bath because I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. But they ate it & used it for grooming. They were also getting a 30% protein feed.

 

[Ital]

Why not? I started giving them to my first hatch around 3-4 weeks. I mixed it in their sand bath because I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. But they ate it & used it for grooming.

It’s well documented they can self regulate calcium intake. I’d be more worried about them having access to enough protein.

 

[Oob Child]

What is the chick starter you are feeding now?

Merrylands produce MP chick starter crumbs

 

[Oob Child]

It’s well documented they can self regulate calcium intake. I’d be more worried about them having access to enough protein.

For extra protein I've been giving them mealworms

 

[Oob Child]

Why not? I started giving them to my first hatch around 3-4 weeks. I mixed it in their sand bath because I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. But they ate it & used it for grooming. They were also getting a 30% protein feed.

So should I keep it or ditch it? They don't seem to eat much of it but we're pecking at it a tiny bit before I removed it when kiki told me to

 

[LosMolinos]

So should I keep it or ditch it? They don't seem to eat much of it but we're pecking at it a tiny bit before I removed it when kiki told me to

That is completely up to you. Remember that birds in the wild don’t have members of backyardchickens telling them what they should or shouldn’t eat. I personally would keep it but I’m not an expert by any means. I have a baby food jar lid with crushed up eggshells for my 8 day old quail if it makes any difference