Quail and supplemental calcium

[terriergal]

A balanced and complete feed for laying coturnix is a layer feed (which I can’t get), they are production animals and need an insane amount of calcium to produce 300 eggs a year, vs real gamebirds (quail have been domesticated and bred to lay/grow at an insane rate!) like a golden pheasant which lays 12-18. We don’t feed lactating dairy cattle the same as a beef cow because their needs are vastly different, you need way more nutrients, water and energy to milk 200 pounds a day vs feeding a single calf. The growth/productivity on these little guys floors me, they are right up there with Holsteins or commercial laying hens in productivity, but that also means they have specialized dietary needs (like 3.5% calcium) that have to be met.

You can order from someplace like chewy on an autoship. It’s usually comparable pricing and over a certain amount it’s free shipping.