Is 22% enough?

[wbruder17]

I KNOW they SHOULD have higher protein, but this is all I can find around here...and its expensive to boot. Will they still lay productively with 22% protein? They have a large outdoor run, so when it finally gets light longer, that will not be a problem. I have about a dozen Coturnix, several of which are definitely female, but no eggs yet..and they are several months old.

 

[joe125]

Quote:
It really doesn't matter what you feed them, if they are not getting enough light (14+) hours, they will not lay.

I recommend 14+ hours of light, and the best quality GBS you can find. If you can't find GAME BIRD FEED where you are going now, then please search for another feed store, or ask your current feed store to bring in a batch of GBS. Commit to buying a set amount, and buy only from there. GBS is expensive, more so than "Chicken feed", but if you are serious about raising game birds, then you must pay the price.

On 14+ hours of light, and 22% protein GBF, they will lay. You can get them to lay eggs, but you will need much higher protein for them to thrive.

 

[wbruder17]

Quote:
It really doesn't matter what you feed them, if they are not getting enough light (14+) hours, they will not lay.

I recommend 14+ hours of light, and the best quality GBS you can find. If you can't find GAME BIRD FEED where you are going now, then please search for another feed store, or ask your current feed store to bring in a batch of GBS. Commit to buying a set amount, and buy only from there. GBS is expensive, more so than "Chicken feed", but if you are serious about raising game birds, then you must pay the price.

On 14+ hours of light, and 22% protein GBF, they will lay. You can get them to lay eggs, but you will need much higher protein for them to thrive.

Yes. I searched out several feed stored and this is the best they've got. When I'm done with this bag, I will try for better.....its a turkey finisher and the highest protein I can find so far. Odd tho, as this feed store "has it all".

 

[joe125]

Please don't stop your quest for GBS, but if you can find Turkey starter crumbles...It's a very fine substitution for GBS!

 

[7L Farm]

You can feed them 22% for now. But come spring time you will need GBS. Why don't you ask your feed store to carry this product?

 

[cva34]

Like 7L said or ask them to order you a bag when there placeing a order...cva34

 

[Chick Charm]

The answer to your question is YES you can feed them 22% protein turkey/quail/pheasant food and they will still lay regularly (at least the have for me) and also be healthy if you add protein in other ways. It should be noted that I do indeed feed 22% most of the time because of the same situation you are going through. It is hard to find GBS around here. HOWEVER I supplement their diet with SCRAMBLED EGGS, MEALWORMS and OTHER OCCASIONAL SCRAPS. If I had the choice I would use GBS all the time but when you cant get it you need to do what ya gotta do.

Even if you up their protein right now with a good GBS you will likely not see to much increase in egg production without giving them more daylight hours and some warmth.

Wish you the best.

 

[bfrancis]

I was talking to JJMR794 the other day about peafowl and how to raise the protein levels for those guys, he said, "The Easiest Way To Boost Any Feed In Protien Is Soybean Meal~ Its 50% Protien And Readily Absorbed By Almost Any Avian Species... Just Suppliment With Small Amounts Of It".

That would also work to raise your levels for the quail. The quail will and can survive and do what quail do on a lesser protein, but...always a but,....they will thrive on a higher level 245-28%. I completely understand your situation...and you are making do with what you got...but please follow the others advice, supplement with something and if you can't find off the shelf, request the store you shop at to order some in...

Good luck on your quest...don't give up and don't take "no" for an answer...somebody in your area WANTS to sell you, the consumer, what you're looking for.

 

[wbruder17]

I will try again at this new feed store when I run out. I supplement with grass clippings and cabbage, which they love, but I'm sure is not a big protein supplier. I cannot afford to give them scrambled eggs, but they are outside on the ground and I'm sure they can find at least some bugs. I will continue the questt for a higher protein feed, but as it is, they get turkey finisher, which is better than chicken feed.

 

[TwoCrows]

While more than 22% protein is best, they will do fine with 22% protein over all. I have the same situation out here, as I live in a very rural area, and have to settle for what ever they are selling at the time. And my feed store will not carry certain products, nor will they order just for one person.

I have gone almost a year with 20% to 22%, waiting for the turkey starter to reappear! And this was during laying/breeding season. Everybody still layed quite well. However, I do offer them hard boiled eggs and meal worms to up the protein and it seems to work for them.

So I think you be just fine.