do quail ever stop eating???? What to do....

[beerman]

Not to hijack but you mentioned buying 1000#. How would that be stored and how long can it last?
Thanks
Brian

 

[Akane]

You can't really cut feed cost by mixing something else in unless you are starting with the highest protein stuff. I've supplemented my feed but costs only go up since the highest protein feed I've found here is 22%. I have to use something more expensive to increase the protein. Generally protein is the most expensive part of any animal feed. You might actually end up spending less by buying a slightly more expensive feed with better ingredients and higher protein since they won't have to eat as much of it. I actually use the 22% with my chicken chicks to adulthood because they end up eating less and therefore costing less in feed than 18% chick starter despite the gamebird being $1-$2 more per bag.

Mostly though like others have said quail are horrible about wasting feed. I've had tiny buttons empty out entire chick feeders so within hours 1/4th of their pen was filled with several days worth of food getting ruined. The coturnix somehow proved to be even worse.

 

[bratliff]

Sorry, question here. I thought button and cotunix were the same. What is the difference?

Robert


Quote:
Ditto! My no waste feeder was a godsend! It's the PVC one that is cut along the top- a nice gentleman in texas sells them. If you don't have one- that will make a huge difference in the amount of feed they go through.

IMO you are lucky that you can get a bag for 10 bucks...my local feed store sells the gamebird 50# for 19.99

I'm looking into pairing up with a gal to put in larger orders to try and keep the cost down. If you can find a feed mill like JJMR is talking about that's your best bet for cheap feed. I give my birds greens sometimes, but I don't give them less feed when I do that- the greens are extra...

I call them my "hungry hungry hippos"

If Kristins feeder supplier's name is Jim, I have 5 of the no waste feeders he makes for Coturnix and wouldn't be without them. I also have 14 of a smaller size he makes for me for Button Quail and here again there is NO WASTE. Buttons are as bad if not worse than Coturnix for kicking their feed out or dust bathing in it.
PM me if you want Jims contact info. You won't regret the cost of the feeders which is quite reasonable at that.

David

 

[optic1]

Anyone have a pic of these no waste feeders were kinda blind out here

 

[jenjscott]

Button quail are a lot smaller than coturnix quail. Mostly just kept for pets due to their small size. Frequently kept in aquariums indoors.

Here's the feeder

and here's a link to a thread about them.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=130209

 

[optic1]

Not bad looking feeders. We have a Purinamills up the road in Spokane and I wonder how much you save with bulk pricing. I'd have to figure in $60.00 bucks for gas. I saw this topic and thought OMG, I just bought a boatload load of them, LOL.

 

[ultasol]

Hi optic, I'm also in tri-cities. I am not sure what you have to do to get it, but there is a place to get food in bulk in Spokane. If you are interested in buying in bulk, I am also and we could probably work out a way of splitting costs. Because I have both geese (which eat high protein, esp during breeding season) and chickens I use both gamebird and lower protein (17%) feed. Also, if you are interested in DE I have a huge bag and would be willing to split that too.

What kind of quail do you have? Other birds??


Sorry for hijacking... I do have a portion that directly relates to original post.

Someone mentioned that quail will eat more food if protein is low to make up for it, now, is that observation or proven fact? If so, does that prevent quail from showing signs of a protein deficient diet, if it doesn't, what are signs of insufficient protein in quail?

 

[optic1]

Ultasol I sent you a email and maybe we can figure out if these quail ever stop eating. The biggest problem is waste, wasted food is wasted money. The low loss feeders are a start. Lower prices in bulk. It looks to me that their trying to just dust bath in what ever they can find. I'm on day four and out of the 250 Coturnix I have lost one "My Fault". So for the first week they can eat and play all they want. This weekend I'll get serious. 50# 28% Purina Startena out here is $15.49. Has anyone tried Oregon for bulk. No tax. I'm thinking Pendleton OR. from where were at.

 

[Country Living Farm]

Well I kind of stole the idea. I made the same type of a feeder and I have very little waste. I and now using the same principle for my chicks as well.

 

[optic1]

Well then we need some pics for the new invention?

I found the nutrina starter 28% protein for $12.60 a bag but it's a ton price for 40 bags. Is that in the range for bulk? Or can that go lower.