Oh No!! Quail Eating Own Egg RAW!!

[Master Quaillius]

A protein level of 14% is low for a quail. Oats are probably lowering it overall as they are only around 10-12%, depending on brand/type. You want to be closer to 22-28% protein. Adding eggs is good but I would try to find something else to add to the feed daily to get her protein levels up. Or you can try finding a different feed. I use game bird but turkey starter is popular too. Even a chicken chick feed or an all-flock style at 18-20% would be better. Meat bird is normally 22%. All of these choices would require you add a calcium source.

Are you sure the calcium is 20%? Not 2%? Even layer feed is only about 3.5%. 20% calcium will do a lot of damage to her kidneys.

Well, the feed MIX says that 20% of their food is calcium. When I put it in, its probably around 2-3% there. She gets all the calcium she needs. And the protien levels are fine, with the eggs and oats, I use Quaker Oats which are 10% and I live in the middle east, I don't have any access to game bird feed.

 

[Master Quaillius]

Try draining one of her eggs and filling it with something she wouldn't want to eat (like rocks, but I've heard people using mustard because it looks similar to the actual egg). Put it in her enclosure and see what happens. Make sure you collect your eggs as soon as possible as this does get tempting after awhile.

Agh, she doesn't do it anymore! The diet is fine, everything is fine THERE'S NO PROBLEM, she just accidentally ate some. It has only happened 2 times EVER, I just wanted to make sure that it was fine.

 

[lomine]

I'm not worried about her getting enough calcium; I'm worried about her getting too much. Processing all that calcium can damage her kidneys. But I'm wondering if the bag is mislabeled, like they missed a decimal or something. I can't image a song bird needs that much calcium. They can't be laying that many eggs in a year if they lay at all in captivity.

Even if she isn't eating her eggs anymore, not feeding enough protein will put a strain on her body and may shorten her life. I get that you have to work with what is available to you but continuing to feed such low protein isn't good for her in the long run. I would recommend not adding the oats any more. They are lowering the overall protein levels. Keep feeding her the extra egg like you're doing. Some other options for adding more protein are dried or fresh bugs (mine love mealworms), fresh cooked or canned fish (watch the salt levels), and fish food. I don't know if you can easily get a hold of any of those but I highly suggest you up her protein levels as best you can.

 

[Master Quaillius]

Is that meant to be a pie chart showing percentage? The picture is small and I can't zoom in. It looks like it's just showing what's in the mix. So it doesn't list an actual percentage for the calcium like it does the protein? My guess would be it's probably about 1-2% then so you don't have to worry about kidney damage. You'll know if it's not enough if you get any soft-shelled eggs. Or you could do a little experiment and give her some dry, crushed up shells on the side. If she eats them it means she needed calcium but if she leaves them she's getting enough. That's what I have to do with mine because my feed doesn't have enough for the females. I have a mixed flock and the males don't need high amounts so it's easier for me just to give it on the side and let the girls take what they need. I think it's cool how they 'know' exactly how much they need.

Yep! And my quail has been fine.

 

[Ulaidian]

Can I stay at your house for the World Cup? Providing we qualify of course

 

[Master Quaillius]

Can I stay at your house for the World Cup? Providing we qualify of course

Hah, sure!

 

[Jessica Thompson]

It's fine just make sure she doesn't do it again

 

[Master Quaillius]

Oh, okay then.
She has done this twice so far, but that was a long time ago.

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Ok

 

[Master Quaillius]

Usually it would be a sign of her lacking something - either the calcium in the shell or the protein and vitamins of the contents. It can also become a bad habit though, so you shouldn't let her do it. What are you feeding her? Does she get all the calcium, vitamins and protein she needs?

I feed her trill canary food 14% protein which has 20% calcium and add to the 14% protein I feed her like 100 grams of oats to up the protein. I also feed her half a chickens' egg daily. She is very spoiled though, and will eat anything from my hand
And I'm keeping a close eye on her, to make sure any egg she lays is safely put in the fridge.