coturnix layer feed

[GreedySeedFeedy]

I do plan on eating the eggs, but only have one laying right now. What would be other sources of protein?

Laying feed for quail needs to have a minimum of 18.0 g per 100 g of feed, so you're going to have to buy a commercial supplement as grain simply does not cut it. I strongly reccommend cricket flour, it's up to 70% protein! There is also brewer's yeast, which has a good 40% protein as well as vitamin B1.

 

[Lilyofsalen]

How is protein percentage figured for feed? 18g for 100g is 18% protein, right? What about the protein percentage of the 18g?

 

[GreedySeedFeedy]

How is protein percentage figured for feed? 18g for 100g is 18% protein, right? What about the protein percentage of the 18g?

Yep! That's right, 18% of 100 is 18!
And the percentage of protein in 18g of protein is 100%!

I'm not a nutritionist, and generally let those guys tell me what an animal's daily needs are, but when I mix my own feed, I make up a sort of list of what's going in there and in what amount.
Then, I enter it into a nutrition calculator like this
https://www.verywellfit.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4157076
Because I'm not bright enough to do it on my own, lol.

With the example recipe I entered in for that link, you can see what that particular recipe is like nutritionally. It looks like I need to cut ba k in the cricket dust, since now there's too much protein per 100g of that mix.

Since those nutrition calculators are for humans, make sure you look at the gram amounts and not the percentages. If it says 25%of daily calcium needed is present, that is not accurate for a laying quail, that's accurate for your needs, so this is just one of many stops you will make along the way when finding out what to feed your quail.

I sometimes figure out the daily needed amount in mg by checking the back of my calcium and vitamin supplements for birds, but it's never going to be 100% perfect when home done. A parakeet does not have the same calcium requirements as a laying quail for example. Luckily with calcium, you can feed them in increasing amounts until their egg shells are strong, and learn how much they need that way, but this isn't true for other things like iron and vitamin D. You can give them too much, and it's not safe.

So, since I'm not a nutritionist and my math and google-fu skills only go so far, I heavily rely on premade feed and supplements especially for quail, and only make my adjustments according to problems I run into, like picky eaters, adding extra protein for chicks, and boosting calcium and selenium for laying or molting birdies.

If you like, I would be happy to take pictures of the nutritional values and ingredients of my premium quail feed! That way you could at least get some idea of what your ballpark is for all of these things. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful, this stuff needs an expert.

 

[ironjerry]

I do plan on eating the eggs, but only have one laying right now. What would be other sources of protein?

Get egg scissors from online Much easier when you eat eggs Just snips end off

 

[anvia]

Our quail lay beautiful big creamy rich eggs. They are fed on fermented layers mash with added acv & garlic & we supplement their protein with meal worms in a separate small feeder. Never really succeeded in trying anything more specialist as is really tricky to get hold of. They seem to be thriving though! However.... if there is a break in our supply of mealworms the egg quality deteriorates noticeably.

 

[Nabiki]

Our quail lay beautiful big creamy rich eggs. They are fed on fermented layers mash with added acv & garlic & we supplement their protein with meal worms in a separate small feeder. Never really succeeded in trying anything more specialist as is really tricky to get hold of. They seem to be thriving though! However.... if there is a break in our supply of mealworms the egg quality deteriorates noticeably.

Garlic is bad for birds! Please don't feed them garlic.
https://avianexoticsvet.com/10-everyday-items-that-are-toxic-to-birds/

 

[anvia]

Garlic is bad for birds! Please don't feed them garlic.
https://avianexoticsvet.com/10-everyday-items-that-are-toxic-to-birds/

Thanks for your concern & the article - which I read - in referring to garlic it said “in rare cases”.....
I’m pleased to say our birds are thriving on their current feed. No signs of anemia. Whilst I respect your experience, personally we find it invaluable (in small quantities) in our parasite & pest management strategy.