Chickpeas + Peanuts + Crushed Hardboiled Egg = Happy Quail?

[danQUAIL]

Ok.. so I've read maybe a half a million threads on 'DIY Quail Feed' , 'Self-Sustainable Quail', 'Homemade Feed' and every iteration thereof, and from what I've gathered...

1. 3 or 4 people will post encouragement
2. Someone will post the "Ask and ye shall receive" list (which is very helpful btw)
3. Someone with the voice of reason will conclude that it's almost impossible to make feed for less than the cost of GBS

That said..

GBS is definitely not getting cheaper, and I've literally watched the price more than double over the course of about 15 years worth of forum posts (now ~$22 - ~$24 from what I can find). I'm also having some difficulty finding a feed mill in my area (South Florida).. so my alternatives are limited, and what I really want is a sustainable solution. If not self-sustainable, at least locally available, cheap and purchasable in smaller quantities.

That brought me to this video:

He claims his quail are quite healthy and productive on a mash of chickpeas, peanuts, crushed harboiled eggs and water. Blended to an oatmeal consistency, he claims they go wild for it.

Maybe that, plus kale for foliage, mealworms for protein, sunflower seed and some extra crushed shells for grit? I know the exact nutrient requirements can be quite complicated for quail, but the nutrient makeup of these base ingredients must fit the puzzle somewhat, even if a few things need to be added, right?

I admire those that can make do with less.. and some cultures that rely on quail for meat and eggs must be getting by without access to Purina Game Bird & Turkey Startena..

Anyone with gamebird nutrition experience have any input on this?
Thanks!

 

[Fishkeeper]

I'm a bit skeptical that it's as simple as that. I suppose it's worth a shot if you closely monitor them for any signs of malnutrition and make sure to provide them with plenty of insects and fresh greens.

 

[danQUAIL]

I agree.. the simplicity was definitely a surprise.

I plan to bite the bullet and find the best price for GBS within a reasonable distance so I can get some quail experience, then transition them into a more sustainable diet like above, over time...

 

[Fishkeeper]

If you have the space, why not raise two different groups? Keep one on GBS, transition one to the homemade stuff, compare them to see which, if either, is healthier. It'll give you a good control to compare with your experimental quail. Assuming you keep the one batch on the homemade food for awhile and they don't suffer, switch the control group to that.

 

[danQUAIL]

Sounds like a plan!

I'll closely document and photo and post here when that time comes, so wiser eyes can take a look and provide some guidance.

Thanks for the encouragement!!

 

[mdees88]

Don't know what's available in your area but I'm paying $14 no tax for a 50lb bag 30% turkey starter from my local feed store...

 

[danQUAIL]

Don't know what's available in your area but I'm paying $14 no tax for a 50lb bag 30% turkey starter from my local feed store...

I'm in South FL.. lowest I can find locally is about $23 and change for a 50lb bag, and haven't been able to locate a feed mill nearby as my area is just a touch too urban/suburban. If I were closer to the middle of the state, or higher, my options would be better.

 

[Acre4Me]

With regards to making your own feed, I would just be aware that any of your ingredients could spike in price (or drop) for some reason. You should have a few alternatives and understand what nutrients each is providing so that you can switch around more easily and know they are still getting required nutrients. In addition, I've read posts regarding using a vitamin and mineral supplement (powder) to add to any homemade feed - I see this mentioned in the BYC forums on Chicken feed.

If using feed store feed (maybe you determine too much hassle to make your own all the time), you can provide wet or fermented feed so they waste less, and apparently eat less (again lots of fermented feed threads on BYC). I know my quail waste more feed than I would like to see, but I haven't switched to fermented feed as I don't think I would keep up with it. Or if providing dry feed store feed, then you measure out what they need per day and provide 1x or 2x per day in a manner that prevents them from wasting the feed (or very much feed anyway) - and again many threads on BYC regarding homemade feeders and ways to prevent birds from wasting so much.

Good luck whatever you do.

 

[Sammbalina]

I was wondering if the OP actually did the half&half test to see if the DIY Diet was any good? If so, what were the results? I'm kind of in a dead zone as far as Gamebird/Turkey starters go too and found this thread in a search. I'm especially looking for organic, which tends to be even pricier and harder to find than the non-organic.