Strange Quail Egg Coloration.

[Master Quaillius]

So my 3 month old golden quail started laying daily eggs. So far she's got 2 eggs in the box but today she laid one with strange coloration. Maybe its because of stress because they're doing a lot of loud construction near my area. I do give her lots of calcium in the form of seashells, eggshells and the like. Also give her boiled egg whites and yolks for protein and she's on a diet consisting of Trill Brand Canary feed mixed with oats (Trill already has 20% seashells in their food so thats good for her) Here's a picture of the egg.

 

[Dani xxx]

I have had a few white eggs with little to no colour to them at all but the eggs were normal so I haven't worried just assumed it when through a bit fast
She should be on a game bird/ quail feed rather than a canary feed even with you supplementing protein with eggs they need a lot higher protein levels some people use non medicated turkey stater or gamebird starter
I use quail layer pellets 20% protein which I add fish food 28% protein to up protein more I also give mealworms

canary feed is only about 13% protein from what I can find you want about 20 to 24 % for optimum laying some people use up to 30% on this forum

 

[Master Quaillius]

I have tried everywhere to look for game bird starter but with no luck. See I live in the middle east and game birds aren't very common here unfortunately. I'll just have to pass by on boiled eggs and oats and stuff. Also, the white eggs (for me) mean that the quail has a calcium deficiency, because every time I feed her more calcium she lays more natural colored eggs. She also gets eggbound before laying a white egg so just a heads up. Also, yes the egg did pass a bit too quick since normally she lays an egg a day apart. She just started laying some weeks ago so I guess its normal to expect a wierd egg here and there.

 

[JaeG]

If you can find alfalfa seeds to sprout they are packed full of protein (about 30% I think) so that's a good supplement and they love it. Can you get dried bugs of any kind? I grind up dried crickets for my Button quail chicks and add that to their feed as a good protein boost. I can't get Gamebird feed where I am either (it's very frustrating). I use a 20% protein Meatbird Crumble and supplement for extra protein.

 

[Dani xxx]

I give mine layer pellets with calcium in them and added oyster shell and I cook up their own egg shells and feed it back to them so they can decide if they need more or less themselves and so far I have got an egg a day from all my girls since march so I think they are fine
I also give mine fresh fruit and veg everyday and every so often I grow microgreen and put a tray in which they eat to the soil and I give them a small scatter feed of birdseed with mealworms too I know they are a tad spoilt but they love it they all queue up for their daily treat in the morning and 1 girl will eat from my hand

 

[Master Quaillius]

Hmm, yes I do give her lots of cucumber, corn and fresh sprouts and yesterday night I boiled her 2 eggs so she's fine for now. She's making a new egg right now too so thats good. I cant find any dried crickets or Alfafa seeds anywhere though sadly . I think they have mealworms in the pet market but it gets wayy to hot in there and I'm worried that she'll get obese as I've heard that mealworms are almost pure fat. Anyway, thanks for all the helpful posts and such.


(P.S. If you keep the treats in your hand long enough, the quail will walk up to you and take it from your hand. I got mine to start doing it a week after I brought her home )

 

[JaeG]

What about sunflower seeds to sprout? My quail love them and they contain 24-30% protein. They are an occasional treat here though as they are expensive. They won't touch raw hulled sunflower seeds unsprouted though. Mealworms should be limited to a few per bird a day, or a few times a week sort of treat because they are quite fatty. It can be frustrating not being able to get the food you want to spoil your precious pets with!.

 

[Master Quaillius]

Aand, we're back to normal!

Thank you again for all of the helpful posts, I was getting worried for a second!