They're Japanese Quail.
When I first got them, I temporarily fed them canary seed mix, they loved it. After almost finishing the bag, I decided to buy a big 20kg bag of game bird finisher, because it has all the protein and stuff needed for them to lay eggs and be healthy.
I mixed the micro-pellets in with the left over seeds and with the oyster grit as well.
As I put the food-cup down for them, they rarely ever touch it anymore! Sometimes I see the male go through it, he normally makes a huge mess by pecking at the pellets to try and find the canary seeds underneath, and all the pellets fall onto the grass. It's a waste of money.
Sometimes I give them fruits such as water melon or cucumber, I sprinkle some pellets on to try and convince them to eat it; They eat a few, but then devour the whole cut piece of fruit. I don't get why they don't eat the pellets.
I was worried they would get hungry, and so I dug up earthworms, they loved it, gave them boiled egg shell (broken up), they loved it, clovers, they loved it, fruit, they loved it, but why won't they love their actual food?
The females almost NEVER touch the cup. I even try throwing in clover leaves (love it), and they only eat the leaves then walk off.
Normally, before, all 3 used to eat the seeds out of my hand, but when I do the pellets, they walk away.
I've heard of trying to dampen it with warm water, I did it today, but they only pecked at it slightly and don't eat it.
Does anyone know how I could convince them to eat their food? I don't want to waste money, nor have them be hungry.
When I first got them, I temporarily fed them canary seed mix, they loved it. After almost finishing the bag, I decided to buy a big 20kg bag of game bird finisher, because it has all the protein and stuff needed for them to lay eggs and be healthy.
I mixed the micro-pellets in with the left over seeds and with the oyster grit as well.
As I put the food-cup down for them, they rarely ever touch it anymore! Sometimes I see the male go through it, he normally makes a huge mess by pecking at the pellets to try and find the canary seeds underneath, and all the pellets fall onto the grass. It's a waste of money.
Sometimes I give them fruits such as water melon or cucumber, I sprinkle some pellets on to try and convince them to eat it; They eat a few, but then devour the whole cut piece of fruit. I don't get why they don't eat the pellets.
I was worried they would get hungry, and so I dug up earthworms, they loved it, gave them boiled egg shell (broken up), they loved it, clovers, they loved it, fruit, they loved it, but why won't they love their actual food?
The females almost NEVER touch the cup. I even try throwing in clover leaves (love it), and they only eat the leaves then walk off.
Normally, before, all 3 used to eat the seeds out of my hand, but when I do the pellets, they walk away.
I've heard of trying to dampen it with warm water, I did it today, but they only pecked at it slightly and don't eat it.
Does anyone know how I could convince them to eat their food? I don't want to waste money, nor have them be hungry.