Make them work for it.

[Cookiee]

Greetings folks,

My latest batch of coturnix are top class pigs, they are 11 days old and complete pigs they have gone through 2kg of crumb in a week ! My birds spread most of it on the floor as I don't have trough as I like to promote natural living. To cut a long story short I have decided seeing as they like scratching and spreading so much they can go and scratch and work for their food, and I know they have enough feed on the floor of the cage to last them a month. To get to my question is there any negatives to making them work for it? I figured if they want to spread it I can spread it for them and they can eat there feed slower. Any advice appreciated

 

[SilverBirds]

What does your setup look like? Putting the food on the floor is very wasteful . Most of the food is going to be buried under whatever bedding you are using, be pooped on, and could potentially mold. This can make them sick. If you were to invest in some sort of feeder, you may find them going through a lot less feed.

 

[Cookiee]

What does your setup look like? Putting the food on the floor is very wasteful . Most of the food is going to be buried under whatever bedding you are using, be pooped on, and could potentially mold. This can make them sick. If you were to invest in some sort of feeder, you may find them going through a lot less feed.

Well the birds are 10 days old they are in the brooder, the brooder is 50inch (1270mm) 20 inch (508mm) I change the bedding daily as I am aware of mould etc and also the smell. I ordered a trough, but they still get in it and scrat.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AI6JV46/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

You will end up wasting ALOT of food as it will be lost under bedding. Get a different feeder or something else. What bedding are you using?

 

[Cookiee]

Wood chips

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

Wood chips

I use those too and my chicks even with my food in a feeder waste a lot of feed because it goes under the shavings they scratch and pack at the floor but never come close to getting most of it. I think you're going to waste a lot of feed this way

 

[Cookiee]

I use those too and my chicks even with my food in a feeder waste a lot of feed because it goes under the shavings they scratch and pack at the floor but never come close to getting most of it. I think you're going to waste a lot of feed this way

I think your right. Just so happens this batch are the most cool, I never realised quail could be so cool they have me wrapped around the

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

I think your right. Just so happens this batch are the most cool, I never realised quail could be so cool they have me wrapped around the

Lol I've never had quail but I bet!

 

[Cookiee]

Lol I've never had quail but I bet!

They will take advantage of you! Little bandits they are ! They sitting next to me causing chaos! Should I name my flock after pirates ? they little bandits

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

They will take advantage of you! Little bandits they are ! They sitting next to me causing chaos! Should I name my flock after pirates ? they little bandits

Oh you should, it would be so cute!