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*sigh* I am a licensed game breeder, Connecticut License # 2948. I have been raising game birds for years, and only recently got a few hens for some fresh eggs. While I also do not consider myself an expert, I have many pheasant, Bobwhite Quail, and Coturnix Quai, and flying mallards. Also some Easter Egger hens. lf you have an adult quail that chokes on scratch grain, there was something wrong with it. I have had birds up and die, never found anything in their esophagus. In the fall I hatch out a hundred, and during the winter months, I brood the Coturnix as they bring a better price in the early spring. Last week at the local auction I sold 20 assorted young Coturnix quail for a rediculous 7.00 per bird. IT AINT LIKELY THAT I WOULD LET A 7 DOLLAR QUAIL CHOKE TO DEATH. They get all the grain and cracked corn they can eat to generate body heat in the winter. Coturnix Quail, at 18-20 weeks, do fine on the scratch grain, and Bobwhites, at 32-40 weeks will eat the scratch grain until they explode. It keeps them busy and reduces cannabalism. I always reduce the scratch grain on March 1, as the birds will begin to lay in a few weeks, and convert to the oyster shells, and layer crumbles for a better quality egg. While I appreciate your opinion, my chickens more likely live by the game bird model. A game bird is a wild animal, including the Cotrunix (although not in the US) and a wild bird that chokes on corn or grain, would die out pretty fast in the wild.
I have to agree with Joe here, first off why not feed them a complete diet instead of mixing it. Quail don't need scratch or corn, they an however live on it but they won't be healthy. The best option is a quality GBS. Quail also shouldn't eat laying crumbles. They can eat game bird layer but not chicken layer, which one are you talking about? Also coturnix are full size long before 18-20 weeks.
I agree with what you're saying Robo. My point was that quail don't choke on cracked corn or scratch grain, that quail over the winter here need to generate body heat for survival and as spring approaches you can begin to condition them again with layer crumbles ( generic term, the Blue Seal brand clearly states GAMEBIRD). IMO, and only in my opinion, the Coturnix has special needs in winter, and special needs while laying. 18-20 weeks was an arbitrary number I use in a formula for keeping track of costs and feed. (80/Coturnix and 120/ Bobwhite in days.) That is usually how long till auction. I was merely offering an opinion based on my experience, for which I was accused of using a "chicken" model. I raised quail long before chickens. There a million ways to breed and raise quail, ducks, chickens, pheasants, etc... and I don't know all of them. The cracked corn and scratch grain is also cheaper, and goes farther. That is exactly why I love BYC. I realize we are getting off topic, I just wanted to clarify.