Can Coturnix have cracked corn as a treat? Also, do they need grit?

[DeeAnn5]

I posted earlier about feed, thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions. This is actually an unrelated post - just wondering if my girls can have some cracked corn? Also, do they need grit? They get sand, is that good enough for grit?

 

[le_bwah]

The pieces might be a little big for them, but I don't see it being dangerous as long as they have heavier grit. I find (chicken) chick grit is just the right size for adult quail (Coturnix being my experience), with sand being fine for most smaller non-soluble treats. I give mine a mix of birdseed intended for wild quail, which they go crazy for.

 

[DeeAnn5]

Great! thank you.

 

[Fishkeeper]

If you don't have a sandbox/dustbath already, they'll bathe in the grit. Give them an actual dustbath and they should use that instead. Don't mix the grit into their food, just give them a dish of it, let them pick however much they want.
Cracked corn shouldn't be a staple but will be a safe treat.

 

[DeeAnn5]

I definitely need to get them some better grit. Thanks for suggesting this.