New Member with urgent question

[dc3085]

Where would I get these probiotics, could I use the ones that come in capsules from the drug store?

You can use the human probiotics or you should be able to buy them at a feed store. Either way will work. Dosage will depend on how many chicks and how much water you adding it to. Use your judgement, you won't kill them by overdoing it a little. Start with a little bit and increase it until poop looks healthy. You can also try a google search for proper quail probiotic dosage.

DC.....You da man!

So let me get this straight, you're saying if I eat some quail poop, I'll feel better?

Most of my experience in health care is with livestock, so no lawsuits if this doesn't turn out right for you.

FANTASTIC! I just happened to be chowing on some apple yogurt when I opened this thread.

Makes you thankful yogurt already comes in a package. You didn't even have to scrape out your cages, for digestive health.

 

[Quail Jailer]

Most of my experience in health care is with livestock, so no lawsuits if this doesn't turn out right for you.

~Laughing~

I'm not litigious , I just thought you might appreciate an opportunity to tell me to eat tihS.

 

[Sill]

I give my quail yogurt and kefir as well as fermented feed. All are good for probiotics.

 

[Advocat]

Another couple questions!

Baby quail (Coco) is now 3 weeks old. So far I am only feeding Gamebird Startena (ground up to make smaller) and occasionally some cooked egg yolk. Do I NEED to add anything else to this, or can I feed this indefinitely with no additions, even for the bird's whole life? Although, I do understand that if Coco is a female and starts laying eggs, would need some other nutrients that I'd need to learn about then.

But otherwise? And if I want to add some greens, such as dark leaf lettuce, how do I do that -- do I need to cut up to tiny pieces, or just put a leaf in and let Coco peck what is wanted? I do have a plate of sand in the cage, I assume that is okay to use for grit?

 

[Sill]

Another couple questions!

Baby quail (Coco) is now 3 weeks old. So far I am only feeding Gamebird Startena (ground up to make smaller) and occasionally some cooked egg yolk. Do I NEED to add anything else to this, or can I feed this indefinitely with no additions, even for the bird's whole life? Although, I do understand that if Coco is a female and starts laying eggs, would need some other nutrients that I'd need to learn about then.

But otherwise? And if I want to add some greens, such as dark leaf lettuce, how do I do that -- do I need to cut up to tiny pieces, or just put a leaf in and let Coco peck what is wanted? I do have a plate of sand in the cage, I assume that is okay to use for grit?

For hens I like to give extra calcium. They are egg laying machines! Oyster shell or ground up egg shells offered in a small cup or added to the regular feed can help prevent too thin shells.

You don't ever have to feed anything else. But...how boring would that be? My quail enjoy getting new foods.
I like to give my quail greens, tufts of grass, cucumber or squash quarters, shredded carrot and black soldier fly larvae or meal worms. I find that if the food I'm offering can be given in larger form, like an entire kale leaf, then they waste less since they are on wire. I like to clamp it to the side of the cage at quail height with a clothes pin to keep it clean and they can eat it easier. Small stuff like carrot shreds or insects I place in bowls but realize they will waste a lot. Quail on the ground won't loose their food, but the food will get dirty, trampled on etc.so it's a trade off. In summer if you live somewhere hot it's good to give them high water content foods like water melon cucumbers, tomatoes etc. It gives them another way to up their water intake.

Yes the sand is good for grit, and good for a bath too!

 

[Advocat]

Thank you for the good ideas, Sill I agree, how boring would one food be?

For the time being, Coco is an inside bird -- not sure whether will always be an inside pet or not, have to wait and see, but I feel hesitant about the outdoors since I just have the one quail. Inside, Coco has a lot of company re other pets and people.

 

[Sill]

Thank you for the good ideas, Sill I agree, how boring would one food be?

For the time being, Coco is an inside bird -- not sure whether will always be an inside pet or not, have to wait and see, but I feel hesitant about the outdoors since I just have the one quail. Inside, Coco has a lot of company re other pets and people.

Then you for sure want her inside. Quail hate being alone.

 

[Advocat]

One of the things about Coco that I find interesting is that he/she peeps, chirps and "warbles" constantly when I'm interacting, but also often when I am NOT in view -- at night particularly, I notice this. I have the cage on the side of my bed and it is draped at night, but a fairly constant little patter of sounds goes on for some time. It's not at all loud, but out in the wild it would certainly be enough to draw predators ... so I wonder if quail chicks also do this a lot in the wild (if so, might be one reason most out of a clutch don't survive).

 

[Sill]

Our domestic Japanese quail have little in the way of wild quail instincts. My males crow at all hours of the night (I need to cull some of these extra males!) so I'm sure predators would have eaten them by now if they could get to them.

 

[Advocat]

Another question!

In the last 3-4 days, Coco has lost 3 feathers. They look to be wing feathers, and I don't know if they came out due to grooming or fluttering around. Not much "fluttering" occurs, but of course now and then.

Is this anything to be concerned about or is it normal?