Quail For Eggs - Questions

[matefrio]

I've gotten into quail because I'd like to have a source of eggs that flys under the radar of my HOA. That said I'm a city boy and have a couple of questions that have been nagging me.

1. I've been feeding the two week old quail Game Bird Starter. What feed should I use once they've grown up? Or should I keep them on Game Bird Starter?

2. Eggs. Better or any difference in if they are fertilized before eaten? If not do I need to keep any males?


Thanks!

 

[Rainwolf]

Quote:
First I'd like to say welcome to BYC

1: They need to be on high protein feed all the time. I keep mine on 28% game bird feed all the time from chick to old age.
*For egg layers I also supply them with oyster shells.

2: No difference between fertile or un-fertile eggs and no you do not need to keep a cockerel but I would suggest keeping 1 so you can hatch eggs to replace or grow as needed.
*My neighbors think some strange wild birds have moved in to the area and makes noises all day and some of the night.

 

[DuranAndy]

You can feed them Mazuri Game Bird food, if you can afford it. Most people go for a cheaper brand. It has about 20% protein.

 

[matefrio]

Quote:
I'm using Purina Game Bird Startena that costs $17.50 for 50lbs now by recommendation of the guy who sold these to me.
Game Bird Startena
Crude Protein, not less than 30.0%
Crude Fiber, not less than 6.5%
Crude Fat, not more than 2.5%
Lysine, not less than 1.5%
Methionine, not less than 0.5%
Calcium, not less than 1.0%
Calcium, not more than 1.5%
Phosphorus, not less than 0.8%
Salt, not less than 0.25%
Salt, not more than 0.75%

If I go to 20% protein could I use non medicated DuMor

Chick Starter/Grower 20%?

It's $10 for a 50lb bag and easily obtainable. Is that enough protein for female adult birds that are egg producing?

 

[Rainwolf]

you want at least 22% -30% protein feed so your feed is fine.

Just keep them on that feed but as the get to be full adults they don't "need" that much and can do fine on 22% as well as 30%. I just add other grain treats or fresh fruit/veg scraps for the adults (I have a juicer that makes great pulp scraps they love)

Just be sure to free feed some calcium like oyster shells as with the right lighting they will lay once a day, every day and really chew through it.

 

[DuranAndy]

I think 30% protein is too high for adults. I use IFA Gamebird Grower 24% protein.

 

[Rainwolf]

Quote:
It could be to high for some quails but I know coturnix need at least 22% based on all the scientific studies I've read. Some Studies show as low as 18% but the prime egg layers is in the low 20's and the prime growers is in the high 20's.

This is again Japanese Coturnix I've researched and am talking about.
And as I said before for full adults I add fresh foods and additional grains. This allows me to buy 1 feed for all my babies and adults.
I also sprout barley and they love the sprouts.

OP- what kind of quails do you have?

 

[joe125]

Quote:
28-30% protein Game Bird Starter (www.purinamills.com or www.nutrenaworld.com 's) GBS is not to high protein for Coturnix at any age/stage of development. I don't know about any other species of quail or any other birds nutrition, but if you are raising coturnix quail specifically for egg production, then you can't go wrong with 28-30% GBS.

Now, if you are going for meat production mode, then there isn't a difference between 24 and 30% protein for growing out coturnix after about 4 weeks of GBS. If you are not interested in egg laying, then switching up their feed is fine. If you really want to mess up a batch of coturnix laying hens, then please switch up their feed......

On a side note: Purina Mills doesn't make a 24% anything in their game bird line (That I'm aware of). GBS=30%, Flight conditioner=19%, Finisher=20, Maintenance=12.5%, Breeder/layer=20%.
Pay no attention to what ever Purina calls the feed if you are raising coturnix. GBS from hatch to dispatch is the best. The other grades are for more precise uses with other species of game birds. Mostly nasty evil pheasants

 

[wpalmisano]

It depends on what you are doing. Are you eating them ? Eating the eggs? Layer crumbles have all you will need. I use Blue Seal or Agway, Oyster shells too if you are hatching out the eggs. Also, they love scratch grain or cracked corn and greens. Mix it with the layer crumbles in the cold weather when they are not laying.

 

[joe125]

Quote:
That's a good "CHICKEN" model, but game birds are totally different animals!

I'm no expert by any stretch of mine or anyone else s imagination, but a coturnix is a coturnix, and last time I checked.....A chicken is a chicken.

Please remember that you are posting in the quail/game bird section, and chicken rules do not apply here.

My birds would choke on scratch grain and cracked corn! I don't have any chickens