Gave me an idea....

[shelleyd2008]

I think I'll also go with the turkey starter, it is the one with the highest protein that I know of.

NotTheMomma~~you should ask them, if they don't carry it, they should be able to order it for you. Just be sure to get the highest protein level you can, in whichever feed you get. You could always start a mealworm colony, those are nothing but protein, and the birds love them

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I know the brand that my feed store carries, the turkey starter has higher protein (28%) as opposed to the gamebird (24%). I would go with the turkey, just be sure whichever you get has the most protein in it.

 

[simplyscrambled]

Thanks, shelleyd2008, I'll do that! You've been awesome help with my quails to be...first the humidity and now the feed!

 

[tbone]

purina mills gamebird startena is what i use 28-30 % cant remember witch......

 

[NotTheMomma]

They ordered Southern States Sporting Bird Starter 28% protein. It is medicated though with lasalocid for the prevention of cocci caused by Eimeria Legionenesis. Will this be OK? It's for bobwhite that we don't intend to eat, though we would love to raise them!

As for the meal worms, I'd love to start my own, BUT, I don't know where to buy them from to get started. I read somewhere that you have to be careful getting from a pet store because they don't breed and reproduce as well. So, for now, I'm just at a lost!

 

[CARS]

I am not buying it.

I have been feeding 28 A&M's "Meat Maker" 24% feed for the last few weeks. I have also be depriving them of light with the expectations of a larger bird.

They are all the same size as the same aged quail raised on 18% layer feed.

Too bad I am starting to get customers for my quail so I really can't afford to do any further experimentation. It would be real easy to have each cage with a different ration. Oh wait... https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2188098#p2188098
Post #14

 

[quiltnchik]

May have already been answered, but I'm T-I-R-E-D after moving and unpacking stuff all day...

Anyway, is the turkey starter/grower okay for quail at any age or only as adults? I need to know because my Coturnix are due to hatch Tuesday, so I have to go buy a bag of feed

Thanks!

 

[cawooduck]

I feed my breeders gamebird layena and most if not all are laying an egg a day with excellent fertility. I dont suppliment oystershell at all. But then again, i am using playground sand in their bath boxes which may have some type of shell in it already, i dont know.

I sometimes wonder about the protien thing and if we blow it out of proportion, to a level. They say to raise baby ducklings on a high protien diet, for the last two years mine get flock raiser from the start until i turn them into the big pen where they eat what i feed the adults, which is a 17% maintenance diet this time of year, and everything is going fine. The lady i got a majority of my ducks from fed her ducks chicken layena and scratch year round, and the ducks produced babies like mad!!

On my first batch of quail eggs that i got in February i freaked out thinking i need to push the high protien, so i went and paid $20 a bag for gamebird starter. My newly hatched chicks and the one ring teal duckling are on flock raiser right now and they seem to be doing just fine, i will post up in a couple weeks how their growth is compared to being on a higher protien gamebird starter.

As for our turkeys, they have been on flock raiser since they were poults and they are doing just fine as well.

It will make my life a lot easier to be able to feed just one type of feed rather than ordering special feed all the time, and it would help the pocket book out as well.

 

[quiltnchik]

Again, is the turkey starter/grower okay for quail chicks or only adults? I need to know what to buy - my chicks are due tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[kingmt]

Quote:
I have turkey starter 28%. You can get a starter/grower from TSC that is 24%.