Button Quail Food

[Coconut233]

Hi everyone!
Im trying to look for some food advice.

so far my button quail are 13days old. they are on the Manna Pro Gamebird and Showbird Starter Grower, 24% Protein, and i understand they could stay on this diet for up to 6-8 weeks. I also add some quail yolk in the food for extra protein. sometimes i also add crushed dried black soldier larvae for snacks.

I understand they need calcium therefore I give them the larvae.but do i still need to give them oyster shells?
also i heard they need grits?sand? to help them with digestion. When should I start giving them the sand and oyster shells?

thank you all in advance!

 

[Nabiki]

The diet they're on will last them their lifetime, though they could go as low as 20% protein. When people talk about lowering their protein levels, it's from the 28-30% that they should be getting from hatch to 6-8 weeks.

If your birds are on a good game bird diet, they don't need grit. They will need grit if they start eating other things like actual bugs, vegetables, or other treats. Treats should not be more than 10% of their diet.

The females need calcium when they start to lay. This can be in the form of layer feed, oyster shell, or egg shell.

 

[Coconut233]

The diet they're on will last them their lifetime, though they could go as low as 20% protein. When people talk about lowering their protein levels, it's from the 28-30% that they should be getting from hatch to 6-8 weeks.

If your birds are on a good game bird diet, they don't need grit. They will need grit if they start eating other things like actual bugs, vegetables, or other treats. Treats should not be more than 10% of their diet.

The females need calcium when they start to lay. This can be in the form of layer feed, oyster shell, or egg shell.

thank you! i do plan on giving them live mealworms and veggie as treats. would sand work as grit?

 

[Nabiki]

thank you! i do plan on giving them live mealworms and veggie as treats. would sand work as grit?

If you get construction sand, that would work great as both a sand bath and grit. They will bathe in it and eat what they want. I wouldn't introduce that until they are around 4 weeks old.

 

[Coconut233]

If you get construction sand, that would work great as both a sand bath and grit. They will bathe in it and eat what they want. I wouldn't introduce that until they are around 4 weeks old.

got it! thank you!!