Multi purpose/breed feed help

[Fishychix]

Question on feed: I want to get a multipurpose feed for my birds, chickens and quail. But, I don’t know exactly what to look for. I’ve gone around and taken pictures of the labels on the bags so I can work out a ref. sheet. I think I know what the chickens need , but not so much the quail.

 

[Nabiki]

Quail require more protein than chickens, especially while growing. Chicks should get something around 28% protein. Game bird starter is best. When they're adults, you can get away with layer feed, but I would still give them game bird crumble with calcium on the side.

I wouldn't give your chickens and quail the same feed.

 

[muddy75]

Question on feed: I want to get a multipurpose feed for my birds, chickens and quail. But, I don’t know exactly what to look for. I’ve gone around and taken pictures of the labels on the bags so I can work out a ref. sheet. I think I know what the chickens need , but not so much the quail.

I use meatbird feed and sometimes mix in layer crumbles for extra calcium

 

[muddy75]

I use meatbird feed and sometimes mix in layer crumbles for extra calcium

All flock crumbles would be better but my store only carries in pellets

 

[Fishychix]

I did find flock feed from Purina and Kalmbacher(?). My quail have been laying for a while now and still eat their gamebird starter because I could only find pellets for the next stage. I did try the rolling pin and other suggestions for breaking it down but it was very inconsistent and way too much work for what I got. My chickens are getting ready to lay and also about out of their feed, so I thought it’s good timing to try and figure this out. Is there a protein supplement available, kinda like oyster shells with calcium? I mean food wise, I don’t want to keep adding to my bag/bills collection. I know they can have yogurt etc. but I don’t know how much. I have this question out to my chicken people also.
For anyone in my area: are you interested in getting an almost completely full bag of ADM Specialty Feed pellets in excellent condition? Did I mention it’s free???

 

[FloorCandy]

All flock crumbles would be better but my store only carries in pellets

Out of curiosity why don’t you like pellets?

 

[Fishychix]

Out of curiosity why don’t you like pellets?

Quail are too small to eat it. Unless others have had success?

 

[Fishychix]

Someone did suggest wetting the pellets. I forgot about that. I can imagine the mess though if I forget to clean it
I know I would only give them small amounts but sometimes I have to ask for help because I can’t do it and I know they won’t clean anything.

“They” being my help.

 

[FloorCandy]

Quail are too small to eat it. Unless others have had success?

Mine eat pellets. I give crumble (28% protein) blended up into a powder until about 7 days old, then regular unblended crumble (mine is pretty powdery) until 4 weeks, then I start mixing the crumble with adult pellets (24% protein), to slowly transition them for like a week and a half, and then it’s all pellets. I buy these pellets and I find them to be fantastic.

https://www.chewy.com/hudson-feeds-poultry-feeds-game-bird/dp/254436

For chick crumble I use :
https://smile.amazon.com/Natural-Premium-Feed-Freshly-Milled/dp/B00NJDCGM0

I can’t say enough good things about this combo. The crumble is like, hurts my stomach expensive, so I wean off early, but the pellets are great. My adults all eat them, my approx 5week olds have been eating them exclusively for about a week. I haven’t had any nutrition based illness at all, I have great hatch rates, my last 2 hatches had no curled toes, the most recent hatch, no assists needed and 100% hatched.

I also do not blend my oyster shell, they eat it how it comes from the bag, no issues, I assume if it’s too big they toss it aside and get a new one, but I haven’t seen any in the sand I sift. My quail are regular sized, not jumbos.

 

[FloorCandy]

Here are my “teens” they are 4 and 1/2 weeks old in this photo, and fully feathered and fat. They turned 4 weeks last Tuesday, and I took this photo yesterday (Friday) or Thursday afternoon. They eat exclusively pellets now.