Quail and supplemental calcium

[Susan Skylark]

I usually feed a high protein chicken layer feed to my coturnix with some supplemental Ground egg shells for a couple big celadons that otherwise like to lay soft shells. Due to an issue getting feed (three different stores in 3 states were out of just that particular type) I’ll be feeding an all flock of the same brand, actually what our golden pheasants get, for a bit. The protein is the same but there isn’t much for added calcium but I figured calcium was easier to supplement than protein. I got some crushed oyster shells (only calcium we have locally available) too but will it be enough; are they small enough for quail to handle? I don’t have enough egg shells to feed everybody and I’m a little nervous, anybody do this routinely? In theory it should work but quail don’t read those particular books sometimes!

 

[muddy75]

I usually feed a high protein chicken layer feed to my coturnix with some supplemental Ground egg shells for a couple big celadons that otherwise like to lay soft shells. Due to an issue getting feed (three different stores in 3 states were out of just that particular type) I’ll be feeding an all flock of the same brand, actually what our golden pheasants get, for a bit. The protein is the same but there isn’t much for added calcium but I figured calcium was easier to supplement than protein. I got some crushed oyster shells (only calcium we have locally available) too but will it be enough; are they small enough for quail to handle? I don’t have enough egg shells to feed everybody and I’m a little nervous, anybody do this routinely? In theory it should work but quail don’t read those particular books sometimes!

I feel like the oyster shell is sometimes too large for quail. Do you have a means of crushing the larger pieces more?

 

[Sefirothe]

I got a couple bags of this to offer as a supplement once the chicks in my incubator/brooder grow up:

https://www.chewy.com/browns-encore-avian-grit-digestive/dp/216143

 

[Nabiki]

I have a stainless steel mortar and pestle that I use to crush oyster shell into smaller pieces.

 

[007Sean]

Normally, a balanced and complete feed ration has enough calcium. I personally have never supplemented calcium to any of my birds....never have had an issue with soft shelled eggs.

 

[Susan Skylark]

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.

 

[PatientType]

I was having problems with eggs cracking and hens laying eggs with no shell. The problem was inadequate calcium. The solution was making oyster shell flour - not crushed oyster shell - available to the flock. No more cracked eggs, and only very rarely to I find a shell-free egg.
The birds love the oyster shell and empty my supplemental feeding cups (about 1/3) of a cup about twice a week.
The nice side benefit is that I don't need to shop for high calcium crumble feed. I know the quail always have all the calcium they need. The local feed stores don't have oyster shell flour so I purchase mine on Amazon.