Safe to feed quail this tortoise food?

[Phneyda]

We had a tortoise that passed away last Summer. We have a nearly full bag of tortoise pellets in the fridge. I took some and dehydrated it. Is it safe to give to the quail? I ferment their food so I could ferment the dry pieces as well?
I looked up sodium alginate and it is brown algae which has calcium & salt. Maybe save it for the hens when they start laying? Thanks!

 

[SulkyBantam]

I wouldn't but wait for other opinions

 

[le_bwah]

Crude protein 1.2%

Please don't give it as a primary source of food. Pretty sure even buttons need over 20% in their feed.

Not seeing anything in that list that looks harmful to chickens/quail, but I'd be hesitant even giving it as a treat for dietary and contamination fears.

Better off posting this bag up on Craigslist/Facebook hoping someone with a tortoise gets in touch.

 

[Percheron chick]

All the ingredients are safe. I'd toss it as scratch or put it in a bird feeder.

 

[Nabiki]

It would be okay as a treat, but certainly not for their regular diet. Treats should be no more than 10% of their diet.

 

[Phneyda]

Thanks for everyone’s input. I was thinking of giving it as a treat so that is what I’ll do. I’ll take steps to minimize any chance of contamination.

 

[Quailobsessed]

Please don't give it as a primary source of food. Pretty sure even buttons need over 20% in their feed.

Not seeing anything in that list that looks harmful to chickens/quail, but I'd be hesitant even giving it as a treat for dietary and contamination fears.

Better off posting this bag up on Craigslist/Facebook hoping someone with a tortoise gets in touch.

1.2% is the percentage of protein it would have before the moisture was removed. @Phneyda said they dehydrated it, meaning the percentage of protein would've gone up. Considering it was 84.5% moisture, the protein percentage would have increased significantly once the moisture was removed. However, this food is designed for tortoises, not quails. Best stick to quail food for their main diet.

 

[Phneyda]

Just wanted to update. I boiled the food I hadn’t dehydrated yet (the previously dehydrated stuff went into the compost). The water was 166°-180° which should’ve killed any baddies. Then I dehydrated the food at 160° for 12hrs. Then I placed 1/3 of the food in a jar with some fermented food to (hopefully) get max health benefits and soften it up. I’ll offer the fermented and non-fermented later this week and see if either is of any interest to the girls.

 

[FloorCandy]

Just wanted to update. I boiled the food I hadn’t dehydrated yet (the previously dehydrated stuff went into the compost). The water was 166°-180° which should’ve killed any baddies. Then I dehydrated the food at 160° for 12hrs. Then I placed 1/3 of the food in a jar with some fermented food to (hopefully) get max health benefits and soften it up. I’ll offer the fermented and non-fermented later this week and see if either is of any interest to the girls.

I have hamster food that auto shipped after the hamster died, and I forgot to cancel it. I often toss a few handfuls around the pen when I want them to mix up the chips. It’s not nutritious per se, but they like the little seeds and the colorful bits get them interested.

 

[Phneyda]

@FloorCandy I am sorry about your hamster! The hamster food could turn out to be a surprise hit lol