Feeding Quails

[joshremlin]

Hi Guys,

We’ve kept chickens for a few years but was forced to get rid of them around 18 months ago as we was going to sell up and move and the estate agents wouldn’t list the house on the market with them... we’ve got the back garden lovely and let’s admit it chickens ruin it so we are looking at hatching some quails as we have the incubator etc as we used to buy eggs, hatch them and sell on as a hobby with the kids and they loved it.

I’ve hatched painted quails in the past but this time we’re going for just box standard jap quails.

My main question is what is everyone feeding them ? I was thinking some layer pellet (possibly crushed slightly)mix with corn and in the winter add abit of chick crumb for a protein boost or am I just over complicating it?

Sounds odd as I’ve hatched painted quails before but we incubated them for a friend who gave us crushed chick crumb to feed them until she collected them... I’m just wanting to know what people feed to ensure they sustain a happy, healthy live!

Thanks

 

[dpenning]

I use a game bird crumble for the higher protein content. Regular chick starter is too low in protein.

 

[joshremlin]

I use a game bird crumble for the higher protein content. Regular chick starter is too low in protein.

Do you feed that to them regularly, just in winter or all the time ?

Thanks

 

[FirstTimeClucky]

I keep both button quail and coturnix and feed both with the same diet. You can also use turkey starter as an alternative to gamebird feed. I have a hard time getting gamebird or turkey crumble where I am, so I use 18% chicken layer feed mixed with 1/3 fish meal (from fish food pellets or flakes), or I mix hard boiled egg or ground peanut in with their greens. Peanut should be unsalted, raw or roasted. Some people also use soybean meal as a protein source, but I'm not a fan of GMO soy. I supplement their protein all the time because I'm using chicken feed. They also get some grains or seeds but it's not the main part of their diet.

 

[dawnmt70]

There are others who add spent brewers grain to increase the protein (runs in the ballpark of 32%). Its often free from local brewers. Can be dried or frozen to last a bit longer. I haven't yet tried it but will be soon with winter bearing down & fresh greens becoming scarce.

 

[Hope Hughes]

I'm about to hatch out about 100 and was curious as to the chick feed. Can I give them the same I give me chicken chicks? I hatch out about 100 chickens a year and sell/eat them, but new to the quail. I have access to game feed but wasn't sure if I can give that to the chicks as well as when they are adults. TIA

 

[FirstTimeClucky]

I'm about to hatch out about 100 and was curious as to the chick feed. Can I give them the same I give me chicken chicks? I hatch out about 100 chickens a year and sell/eat them, but new to the quail. I have access to game feed but wasn't sure if I can give that to the chicks as well as when they are adults. TIA

I would compare the protein content of the chick starter vs the gamebird feed and feed them the higher protein feed. Another alternative is turkey starter. Quail need more protein than chickens, especially when they're growing. You can also supplement the protein by adding protein sources like fish meal, mealworms/superworms, peanut, or spent brewer's grains (which brewers sell cheap or give away for free).

Another source of protein is high protein greens. I give my quail dark green leafy vegetables like romaine lettuce (leaf and iceberg are not very nutritious and not recommended) bok choy, collard greens, kale, or spinach. They also love raw broccoli heads. You can chop them up and offer them in a dish, or clip the whole leaf to the bars of the cage and they will gobble it up.

 

[Hope Hughes]

I would compare the protein content of the chick starter vs the gamebird feed and feed them the higher protein feed. Another alternative is turkey starter. Quail need more protein than chickens, especially when they're growing. You can also supplement the protein by adding protein sources like fish meal, mealworms/superworms, peanut, or spent brewer's grains (which brewers sell cheap or give away for free).

Another source of protein is high protein greens. I give my quail dark green leafy vegetables like romaine lettuce (leaf and iceberg are not very nutritious and not recommended) bok choy, collard greens, kale, or spinach. They also love raw broccoli heads. You can chop them up and offer them in a dish, or clip the whole leaf to the bars of the cage and they will gobble it up.

Awesome thank you very much for the information. Hoping for a good hatch lol.

 

[ironjerry]

I use the game bird along with the romaine lettuce and kale

 

[eastendquail]

I also am curious about feeding quail. I have 16 bobwhites that are now 13 weeks old, I'm raising them for eventual release for tick control, not for market or anything. From 0-6 weeks old I had them on 24% starter, from 6-12 weeks they've been on 20% starter/grower and I recently went out and bought Mannapro All Breed 16% and I'm transitioning them to that (and hoping that's suitable for maintenance feed for the foreseeable future). I was curious as to what other people were feeding their adult "pet" quail? Mine also get lots of snacks, bugs, acorn/hickory nuts, scratch, cracked corn, worms, lettuce, kale, carrots and grapes etc etc any insight would be helpful!