Quail feed

[Rainwolf]

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[joe125]

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ACTUALLY A COMPLETE GBS SHOULD PROVIDE ALL THE CALCIUM THEY NEED. QUAIL UNLIKE CHICKENS ARE VERY EFFICIENT AT ABSORBING CALCIUM FROM THEIR DIET, SO TECHNICALLY OYSTER SHELL IS NOT NEEDED-- IT CERTAINLY WONT HURT THEM, BUT IF FEEDING PROPER NUTRITIOON IT IS MERELY UNNECESSARY SUPPLIMENT.

NOTE ITS NOT UNCOMMON TO GET SEVERAL SOFT SHELLED, OR SHELL-LESS EGGS A YEAR FROM COTURNIX, ITS JUST SOMETHING THEY DO FROM TIME TO TIME, NO NEED TO CULL ANYONE (UNLESS YOUR JUST HUNGRY

) ALL ARE CAPABLE OF IT BUT IT SHOULD BE A RARE OCCURANCE.

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Coturnix are very efficient egg shell creators from game bird feed, and the occasional "Shell less" egg is par for the course. It is a physiological anomaly, and has nothing to do with calcium intake. Feeding extra calcium is not bad, as long as it is not over saturated in the feed, causing a starve out. I give mine extra calcium to boost their bone structure. Go figure!

I think most of the people touting the mandatory addition of oyster shell, cuttle bone or what ever, are just feeding their birds chicken feed. (AKA. Flock raiser)
Adding calcium is not a problem, but adding it instead of good quality game bird feed, is just a chicken thing.
I don't know how to explain it other than that. Consistency is the key with coturnix, no amount of supplements will help out, and I don't know a darn thing about chickens, which is why I only post in this forum.

 

[Robo]

Quail still need grit don't they?

 

[joe125]

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Technically, yes, but since I feed mine GBS, then no, because it is in the feed. If that's not enough, the daily sand baths seam to iron out the rough spots.

Never lost a bird due to grit starvation. Anyone else?

 

[Rainwolf]

I feed mine 28% Gamebird feed. But I still have a small separate feeder with oyster shell in it "just in case"
They do eat the oyster shell sometime which to me means they sometimes need that little extra.
I would not suggest mixing it in the feed as that would be to much but to have a small feeder on the side does no harm and if they need the extra they have it.

as for grit.. I have a sand box with just a little DE in it for dusting and if they need grit they tend to eat sand.

 

[pascopol]

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That's the answer, I feed mine dried and crushed egg shells.

They eat it if and when they need it, no calcium overdose that way.

 

[Robo]

I feed Purina Startena to all of my birds. When I get a soft shell egg or runny poo I supplement them with grit and oyster shell. I give it to them free choice, and I usually do it about every month or two.

 

[TTeddy]

Where do I find this oyster shell? Do stock feeds sell it, or do I need to go oyster shelling?
How about crushed chook egg shell?

 

[GrandmaBird]

you can get oyster shell from most feed supply stores or dr. foster and smith have it online but it is in a small bag, fine for buttons. I also boil an chicken egg and run it in the mini food processor shell and all for my buttons, sometimes mixing in some corn meal or cornbread. You can also use their own eggs to do this. its up to you.

edit: I have been told not to use cuttle bone for buttons as some may contain mercury and it could be deadly to the tiny buttons although my budgie loves his...so....