How can I add more protien?

[pringle]

Well im finally getting a pair of jumbo brown coturnix on sunday and ive ordered a neat little incubator too.Everyything is ready exept the feed.I bought some but it only had 20% protien in it,this is game bird feed btw.Im just wondering how I can add more protien?Ive heard of adding ground up cat food which is ok beouse I have a couple.Im going to be raising my own mealworms in a couple of weeks would those be ok?

 

[Plain_View_Farm]

Mealworms do provide protein, but they are also high in fat so you have to watch how many you give them.
Ground up Cat Food is good or if you have a surplus off eggs, hard boil them and mash them up. They enjoy thats.

david

 

[underground chickenman]

Try adding game bird chick starter, which is typically around 30 percent protein. For 25%, you would use equal parts 30% feed and 20% feed. For some other protein quantity, use the Pearson Square to calculate the amount of each ingredient you should mix. If you don't know what that is or how to use, it google "pearson square" and you will find a bunch of simple explanations.

UGCM

 

[worldling]

It's probably no secret by now, but I'm not a big fan of trying to mix up a good feed formula in my basement. #1 cat food is expensive! (3 to 5 times more depending on brand) compared to game bird starter. #2 It's a big hassle, requires grinding equipment I don't have, and IMHO a total waste of time and money, but that's just me. Don't even get me started on meal worms as a protein supplement because the time and money equation goes out the roof! Unless you are running a meal worm farm too.

Ask the breeder what they feed their birds. If they are feeding a game bird layer or raiser they generally come in 19-20% protein levels, so the game bird feed you have should be just fine for your birds. You can gradually switch them to higher protein game bird feed about half way through that bag.

I use and recommend Purina Mills 30% protein game bird starter from hatch to dispatch for a number of reasons. #1 My birds thrive on it. #2 It's actually more costly for me to keep 2 or more types of feed on hand than the 75cents a 50# bag difference in price. #3 Switching feed formulas on coturnix (perpetual lovers of sameness) causes me more problems than rewards. There are others but way to boring.

Congratulations on getting some coturnix! I think and hope you will enjoy raising them.

 

[aprophet]

I am lucky where I live I have several farm supplys that carry purina startina game bird chow here is a link iffn you want to brew your own

http://www.lakenvelderfarm.com/tips.html hth you can google " soybean meal pearson's square " and get a weatlh of info heres hoping you get it figgered out

http://www.purinamills.com/DealerLocator.aspx?SearchType=Z&ZipCode=23323 just put your zipcode in the box on the left side it will show you the closet dealer to you

 

[JJMR794]

I see alot of folks here on this forum that desperately need 2 things, more cats, and a good feed store in their area...

 

[Wifezilla]

Check on the cats....still working on the better feed store

My quail will knock you down and take your lunch money if it means they can get Taste of the Wild brand cat food. My ducks when ranging the back yard will also try to sneak in the house and steal the cat food. There is some kind of bird crack in that stuff

 

[pringle]

Believe me guys I hate the cats there so annoying.Sooo ill just see what the seller is feeding them and try toget the same brand?Sounds good im still gonna raise the meal worms though since there awesom.

 

[worldling]

Quote:

Amen Bother.

You can never have to many cats!