Quail Feed :o

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So you can give your quail cat food meow!
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Stating to feed game bird feed and nothing else is interesting, but not necessarily helpful to those of us that don't have that option. Where I live there are no game bird feeds available and the costs of shipping is so unbelievably high it's just not feasible. Right now we're feeding a mixture of laying mash and poultry premix, mixed to a protein percentage of 26 - 28%. Our birds also get meal worms, fresh greens, cuttlebones, and all the grit they need from their sand baths. We are looking into different types of natural feed stuffs for all our animals, things we can grow ourselves or trade what we grow with someone else to get what we need. Hopefully you will find this information helpful
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Meal worms are very high in fat and should be fed as treats, cat food (even the organic kind) has many ingredients that are not suitable for birds.
But, there are many ways to get added protein, vitamins, and minerals in their diets that cost little to nothing.
Duckweed is one option - it is high in protein, has many vitamins and minerals, and is completely suitable for a bird diet. Not sure about where you are, but around here it grows everywhere. Every year we scoop a bunch of it off of the nearby sloughs and put it in our koi pond. It purifies the water for the fish, gives them needed shade, and they like to eat it as well. It grows very quickly and we just scoop handfuls off to feed the birds. Easily dried for winter use as well.
Zucchini - 28% protein and is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, folic acid, niacin, and fiber. It's also fairly easy to get free every year as there is always someone looking to get rid of their extra ones. Not sure why people grow so many if they don't eat them, anyways we shred them skin and all and feed fresh or dry for winter. Can also be frozen but not sure what that does to the vitamin/mineral content.
Dandelion greens are another option - Only has around 15% protein but very high in vitamins and minerals.
Chives - 27% protein and high in vitamin C (Our chickens, turkeys, and guinea fowl help themselves to the chives in our garden, the quail have shown no interest in it. I do not know, however, if they are suitable to be included in a diet for quail or not)
Comfrey (dried) - has 25 - 30% protein, also rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly calcium, potassium, phosphorus and iron, as well as magnesium, sulphur, copper, zinc, selenium and germanium
These are just of few of the ones I can think of, do a search and you can find many more, but make sure they are suitable for birds before adding them to their diet.

PLEASE NOTE: The above is strictly for informational purposes and as examples only. PLEASE thoroughly investigate any and all feed ingredients before deciding whether or not YOU choose to feed them to your birds.
 
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That is a very good question. Know of a few people that feed them to their quail, but perhaps they are not a suitable feed
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I've edited my post to include a common sense note. You should always investigate any type of feed in depth so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not you choose to feed that specific type of food. Not just add it to their diet because so and so says it's ok.
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I don't think you guys get it. I'm not *PLANNING* to give them cat food. I'm trying to understand if it's safe to and if so, how much is safe. I have never once said I AM GOING to feed them cat food. Some people say it's good, some people say it's bad and I'm JUST TRYING TO SORT OUT THE FACTS.
 
That sums it up. All I'm trying to do is find out information. Insisting "I feed it so it's okay" tells me nothing, but neither does "Duh, does your bird meow?". I know that too much salt is bad, but I don't know how much salt is okay to feed them. I know too much fat is bad, but I don't know how much fat is okay to feed them. I know not enough protein is bad, but I don't know how little I can get away with feeding them. That's the sort of information I'm looking for.

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We have already gave you our opinion. I'll summarize what has been said for you. Cat food has hardly no nutritional value for your quail. It is made for cats not coturnix quail. If it could be fed to quail without undesireable results they would advertize the heck out of it... It has wayyy too much fat and salt. You say you wouldn't eat all of that processed junk, well I hate to break it to you but cat food is worse than the stuff you despise. By feeding your cats, oops quail that you are in turn feeding it to yourself. Why risk killing your birds to save a buck or two? Your question how much is too much, well I'd say any is too much. It is none of my business if you want to kill your birds by feeding them salt and fat. If you can't properly feed them don't raise them. I'm sorry if I sound rude, but it's the truth.

Pros Cons
Might kill your birds
Saves you a few bucks
they get animal protein If it doesn't they won't be healthy
you get the thrill of giving them cat food
 

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