Jumbo coturnix quail

[Jus1]

I have read all kinds of things that quail supposedly can eat and like as opposed to just their feed. I am trying to find a little more balance for my quail. Right now their daily is their 24% protine feed plus a few hand full of dried mealworms to top them off. I tried celery, apples, and bread...they just don't bother with it. A few minutes ago I added a watermelon rhine. Not only did they not want it, but it actually freaked them out. All 8 of them ran to their sandbox to get away from it and only came out after I took it out. Not sure what that is about or what to give them. Their feed and worms are getting expensive so I wanted to mix it up. You can see their pen and their heads poking through the door of their sandbox as they hide from the terrifying watermelon

 

[speedy2020]

You don't need to give them any threat. The 24-30% gamebird feed that all they need. I give them grass for them to eat and bath (substitute for sand).

 

[Jus1]

Yes I know I don't have to, but I thought if I did it would ease my food cost a bit????

 

[Chris2018]

Yes I know I don't have to, but I thought if I did it would ease my food cost a bit????

It may ease your feed bill some in the short term but long term it will cost you more. I say this because most anything you give them will deplete there over all feed balance and in turn will slow there growth.

 

[Jus1]

Even though I was still planning on giving them their mealworms and feed? I was actually just thinking of adding and maybe they wouldn't eat so much feed if they had other stuff and I could maybe give 1 less handful of worms. If not it's no biggie, I'll just have to charge friends and family a little money for eggs to make up for it

 

[Chris2018]

Ok, your feeding a 24% protein feed and I'll assume that you mealworm are 20% protein or around that, so that alone is dropping you feed protein amount.
Now let's say you offer some black oil sunflower seeds and grass, your over all feed might be 18% protein if your lucky.