Ok to mix game bird starter and chicken rations for quail?

[Eggon]

Hello, I have been researching what to feed my quail and have to come to understand that they need about 26% protein as well as a couple other minerals not found in chicken feed. I managed to find a feed store across the state line that sales game bird starter, albeit at $20 a bag. This is the only source I can find; however I’m currently paying $12/50lb bag for chicken feed; is it possible to mix game bird starter and chicken feed in a 50:50 ratio to make cheaper quail feed? Thanks!

 

[R2elk]

Hello, I have been researching what to feed my quail and have to come to understand that they need about 26% protein as well as a couple other minerals not found in chicken feed. I managed to find a feed store across the state line that sales game bird starter, albeit at $20 a bag. This is the only source I can find; however I’m currently paying $12/50lb bag for chicken feed; is it possible to mix game bird starter and chicken feed in a 50:50 ratio to make cheaper quail feed? Thanks!

Adult quail and newly hatched quail have different nutritional requirements. Newly hatched quail will do best on the game bird starter. You don't want to mix chicken feed with the game bird starter for the newly hatched quail chicks.

Once they are mature, quail don't need the protein content to be as high. Mature quail can do fine on a quality All Flock or Flock Raiser feed.

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2003000200010

 

[Eggon]

Adult quail and newly hatched quail have different nutritional requirements. Newly hatched quail will do best on the game bird starter. You don't want to mix chicken feed with the game bird starter for the newly hatched quail chicks.

Once they are mature, quail don't need the protein content to be as high. Mature quail can do fine on a quality All Flock or Flock Raiser feed.

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2003000200010

Awesome info, thank you! So if my regular chicken layer feed is around 20%, I can just swap to that after a few weeks? Around when can I swap? Sorry for such basic questions, couldn’t really find this info in the stickies!

 

[R2elk]

Awesome info, thank you! So if my regular chicken layer feed is around 20%, I can just swap to that after a few weeks? Around when can I swap? Sorry for such basic questions, couldn’t really find this info in the stickies!

Feeds made for chickens do not contain the levels of lysine and methionine that all flock feeds contain which are also the levels that quail need.

I assume that quail are adults by the time that they are 6 weeks old.

 

[Quailobsessed]

I move my quails onto adult feed (game bird finisher) at 6-7 weeks old.

 

[Eggon]

Hmm, so I’ll have to call the place where I got the starter and ask how much the finisher is. Unfortunately the selection of game bird feed is limited near me and I may have to special order from tractor supply if they don’t have the appropriate finisher/all flock. Really wish I lived near a mill!

 

[Quailobsessed]

Hmm, so I’ll have to call the place where I got the starter and ask how much the finisher is. Unfortunately the selection of game bird feed is limited near me and I may have to special order from tractor supply if they don’t have the appropriate finisher/all flock. Really wish I lived near a mill!

Selection is fairly limited here too. Laucke mills game bird finisher is the only adult game bird feed near me and at one place so I use it.