meal worms during molting?

[Nabiki]

I know it can be hard to predict when they're going to start moulting, but I've hear that you want to start increasing the protein in the diet just before they start to moult rather than after they start.

 

[YWoody]

As you noted, they are high in fat content. Most people feed as a treat not as a way to increase protein.
A better source of added protein would be cat kibble, it runs 30% protein but even that should be a temporary alternative to a balanced and complete feed ration of 24% protein. If your quail are mature, a 20% protein feed would be a maintenance feed.

I used to raise mealworms for my prairie chicken chick's, 1/4" worms are great to get them started eating regular crumble feed but that was done only until they were established on the crumble

So what do you guys (@Nabiki & @007Sean) recommend regarding the kibble?; Would you add/mix cat kibble to regular feed or offer separately? And what ratio if mixed? like 1/4 kibble to 3/4 feed?

 

[YWoody]

I would mix it in with their feed. It's not ideal for bird nutrition, so you want to make sure they're still getting the other nutrients that they need.

Thank you @Nabiki ! At what ratio? like 1/4 kibble to 3/4 regular feed?

 

[YWoody]

I know it can be hard to predict when they're going to start moulting, but I've hear that you want to start increasing the protein in the diet just before they start to moult rather than after they start.

Yes! good Pro Tip! They actually just started to lose a few feathers (it was mid October last year), but they have had such a BRUTAL summer; I'm trying to do all I can to support them. Thank you! Did you see my question about the ratio?

 

[Nabiki]

Thank you @Nabiki ! At what ratio? like 1/4 kibble to 3/4 regular feed?

What is the protein percent on the cat food? You want to bring the total protein up to about 24%, I'm thinking, so if your cat food is 30% and your bird food is 16%, if you do half and half, your protein will end up at 23%. I wouldn't want to do more than 1/2 cat food.

 

[YWoody]

What is the protein percent on the cat food? You want to bring the total protein up to about 24%, I'm thinking, so if your cat food is 30% and your bird food is 16%, if you do half and half, your protein will end up at 23%. I wouldn't want to do more than 1/2 cat food.

Oh good point! My kibble is actually grain free and 42% protein

 

[YWoody]

so maybe 1/4 kibble to 3/4 feed would work!

 

[YWoody]

If you guys are still online; one last question @Nabiki & @007Sean ... (I promise )...

What do you think about putting just a little bit of "Drench" poultry nutrition in their water supply? Just for now, while they are molting and we are still getting 100++ temps here in Tucson

 

[Nabiki]

so maybe 1/4 kibble to 3/4 feed would work!

That would put it up to 23.5%, so yeah, that would work.

 

[Nabiki]

If you guys are still online; one last question @Nabiki & @007Sean ... (I promise )...

What do you think about putting just a little bit of "Drench" poultry nutrition in their water supply? Just for now, while they are molting and we are still getting 100++ temps here in Tucson

I would add some Save-a-chick instead, but not a lot, and only during the moult and heat wave. Save-a-chick is the electrolytes, Nutri-Drench is more emergency energy boost in the form of quick calories.