Quail weight

[Birds1243]

I have 3 female coturnix quails. Can someone please comment on their weights?
1. 13mo, around 300g
2. 11mo, around 280g
3. 13mo, just under 400g

Some advice would be lovely

 

[Nabiki]

What are you looking for? They are all healthy weights depending on the bird. The 280g one is pretty normal for a standard, the 400g pretty normal for a jumbo.

What you want to do is feel their keels. If the keel is prominent, it needs more food. If you feel a lot of flesh around the keel, it probably needs to go on a diet.

 

[Birds1243]

What are you looking for? They are all healthy weights depending on the bird. The 280g one is pretty normal for a standard, the 400g pretty normal for a jumbo.

What you want to do is feel their keels. If the keel is prominent, it needs more food. If you feel a lot of flesh around the keel, it probably needs to go on a diet.

Thanks for the help. None of them are jumbos. If the 400g is overweight, how can I reduce it? She adores her food
Thanks for the great advice too

 

[Birds1243]

She also isn’t seeming herself. Here are her symptoms.
- 400g (not jumbo)
- struggles to poo but poo is normal
- eating and drinking lots
- tired and sleepy
- stable in walking, walking is the same as usual
- crop feels watery.

 

[Nabiki]

How old is she?
Do you have pictures of her and her home?
What are you feeding them?

 

[Birds1243]

How old is she?
Do you have pictures of her and her home?
What are you feeding them?

She is 13mo. Feeding layers pellets, quail mix. They get acv in water 1/2 a month. Often give them egg.

 

[Nabiki]

It doesn't sound like they're getting a proper diet. Are you feeding them chicken layer pellets? Is the "quail mix" a bunch of seeds? If so, that is definitely contributing to the obesity.

You should find a good complete flock or game bird/turkey maintenance feed and give calcium on the side. No more that 10% of their diet should be treats (the egg, quail mix, etc). Once they are on a proper diet, most weight issues will go away on their own.

The ACV is also unnecessary.

Here is an article that will help you find a proper feed for your birds.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/what-to-feed-your-quail.79205/

 

[Birds1243]

It doesn't sound like they're getting a proper diet. Are you feeding them chicken layer pellets? Is the "quail mix" a bunch of seeds? If so, that is definitely contributing to the obesity.

You should find a good complete flock or game bird/turkey maintenance feed and give calcium on the side. No more that 10% of their diet should be treats (the egg, quail mix, etc). Once they are on a proper diet, most weight issues will go away on their own.

The ACV is also unnecessary.

Here is an article that will help you find a proper feed for your birds.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/what-to-feed-your-quail.79205/

Thank you for all the advice. I had been advised and read online that they should have ACV once or twice a month that’s why I give it. I will change the diet and see if that helps - hopefully Do you think she could be unwell, for example not digesting properly, which is making her feel hungry, leading to her eating again? Her poop looks normal today (so that put me off the indigestion thought) and she is still laying so very happy about them two signs.

 

[Nabiki]

Thank you for all the advice. I had been advised and read online that they should have ACV once or twice a month that’s why I give it. I will change the diet and see if that helps - hopefully Do you think she could be unwell, for example not digesting properly, which is making her feel hungry, leading to her eating again? Her poop looks normal today (so that put me off the indigestion thought) and she is still laying so very happy about them two signs.

Does she have access to grit? With the seeds and such, she needs it. With commercial feed they generally don't need grit, but when you are feeding other things such as veggies, seeds, eggs, etc., they may not digest properly if they don't have any.

 

[Birds1243]

Does she have access to grit? With the seeds and such, she needs it. With commercial feed they generally don't need grit, but when you are feeding other things such as veggies, seeds, eggs, etc., they may not digest properly if they don't have any.

Oh yes sorry I forgot to mention I give them grit as well