Quail - 8 day old jumping at me from the brooder

[als77]

At two weeks, they're going to be fine at room temperatures, but will not be okay outdoors yet. I would wait two more weeks.

Their diet doesn't look great for them. Can you find game bird or turkey starter for them? Dog food can be high in grains as well, so if you can't find appropriate food, you might try grinding up cat food, which is higher in protein. You're looking to get about 28% protein for them to get the best growth. You can also give them some boiled and crushed egg.

The dog food is 27% protein, but also high in fat (14%), so I've only added 5-10% by weight.

I got the seeds/grains from the breeder as quail food (the only quail food he has), athough I don't know the nutrient composition of it (which is why I've been adding some dog food, suspecting the food to be a bit low on protein since its meant both for layers and chicks).

Here's a google translate for the seeds/grains;

"Quail feed is formulated for a correct and natural feeding of your chickens. 88.82% of these ingredients are of agricultural origin, all of them obtained according to the rules of organic agricultural production. It can be used in organic poultry in accordance with regulation CE 834/2007 and CE 889/2008. Product certified by the CAAE. The ingredients are: Wheat, tricale, peas, barley, beans, soybeans and sunflower seeds, vitamin and mineral corrector".

 

[Nabiki]

That feed really isn't appropriate for quail.

Here is a video posted by Myshire farm about feeding the quail, and there is a spot in there about 1 minute in where you can see the nutrition information for the feed.

 

[als77]

That feed really isn't appropriate for quail.

Here is a video posted by Myshire farm about feeding the quail, and there is a spot in there about 1 minute in where you can see the nutrition information for the feed.

Yeah, I've seen that video (+ various other youtubers like Chris & Terry) so I have some notes on what the nutritious values are supposed to be (which is also why I added some of my dogs food since they need more protein as chicks than as layers), but being in a foreign country and not speaking the language I opted for the quail-feed the breeder offered. It does have added vitamins and minerals, but doesn't say anything about the nutritious composition

Wheat seems to be the main ingredient (assuming it is listed by main ingredients and not just random) and has way to little protein (@ 13.2%). I assume the soyabeans (36% protein) are there to boost the protein level, and maybe some of the remaining 11.18% has some protein-boost in it (animal products?), but I can't see how it is high enough in protein (even if I were to aim for 24% and not 30%)

Weightwise they seem to be on track (ish) with the results from the A&Ms in this thread;
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/quail-weight-gain-over-time-and-related-questions.770018/
Ish because they've seemed to fall behind after day 9 (slightly ahead on day 9) - gaining close to 3 grams/day on average day 9-14 vs 4 grams/day (or more) for that poster.

They did seem to eat a lot more yesterday though. Weighing-time in 3 hours time

 

[als77]

Tried contacting the breeder asking about the nutricious values for the feed. He hasn't gotten back to me yet, but I did get my hands on some cat food (well, for kittens) with 40% protein, so I will be mixing that in instead of the dog food.

On the bright side; they grew more today than before (almost 5 grams on average vs 3 grams pr day the four days before - even the rants grew 3 & 5 grams, while normally they grow 1&2 grams pr day). I assume that's because they're now at a stage where they're focusing on body-mass and not as much feather production.

Should I provide them with some crushed egg shells? (since I have no idea how much calcium is in the feed)

 

[Nabiki]

I wouldn't start giving them crushed egg shell until they're about 6 weeks old. I offer it on the side because the hens will eat it, and the roos will leave it alone.

 

[als77]

I wouldn't start giving them crushed egg shell until they're about 6 weeks old. I offer it on the side because the hens will eat it, and the roos will leave it alone.

Yes, that was my plan originally - I just started to freak out whether there is enough calcium in their feed for their bones. It should be fine I guess, I'm assuming the (professional) breeder uses this food for his own quail - i.e it might not be ideal (especially in terms of protein), but shouldn't have major flaws.

So frustrating; I were able to avoid the "game bird feed" with 18% protein, and the "quail feed" with 5% calcium, but now I don't know what I've got

Thanks.

 

[als77]

Got a reply from the breeder; 15% protein


Think I'll do 1/3 or maybe even 1/2 cat food (40%) for a week or two then, bumping it up to 23%-27.5%

 

[Nabiki]

You might try adding crushed, boiled egg too.