Training and feeding of button quail chicks.

[gwboolean]

Hatched a new set of about 30 button quail a couple of weeks ago and has been the strangest I have ever had. To begin with, I kept them in the brooder longer than I usually do (I usually have them outside and on a complete seed diet by the time the chicks are 3 weeks old).
These chicks were kept in the brooder, although turned off the temp after a week and left them at room temp. I also let them keep eating chick feed and that is still what the want to eat the most, except of course worms. I started them on seeds/worms after about 2 weeks. My chicks usually will almost immediately stop eating the chick feed. These, however, want to mostly eat the chick feed.
I usually have almost no chick deaths, but I have lost 5 or 6 over this time, although 2 of those losses were do to damaged legs during hatching.
BTW, these chicks are still living in the house, as I am a bit concerned about their ability to survive outside, due to their excessive forming a chick bundle and other behavior.
This was a badly run experiment and I have no idea what to conclude, except these chicks are different than any I have ever raised and they are freaking me out!

 

[Nabiki]

What is the nutrition information ont he all seed feed? In my experience, all seeds generally does not provide proper nutrition for quail, though some of the lack may be made up for with the worms (what type of worm?)

The chick feed may be providing better nutrition, which is why they prefer it. Each batch of chicks is different, though, so it could be a number of factors.

The bundling does sound like they're cold, so you will want to be careful about putting them outside. Again, each batch of chicks can be different, so I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[gwboolean]

Nabike. The seed I feed is specifically for quail. I cannot remember who makes it at the moment. Since these quail are actually poultry, their diet is pretty close to that of chickens. Although the quail are not quite omnivores. It is because they are poultry that for their first 2-3 weeks I feed them unmedicated chick feed (you do have to grind it down some).After that I introduce them to the quail seed with a healthy dose of worms. Other than what they can scratch from the ground, that is all they get.

 

[nuthatched]

Since these quail are actually poultry, their diet is pretty close to that of chickens

Where did you get this information? Whoever told you that was misinformed, at best.
They need a better diet than seed mix, however, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt if you have the nutrition information for it or a link?

 

[gwboolean]

I got that from raising a number of button quail over a number of years.
A. There is a seed mix for quail and that includes button quail. It's called western dove and quail mix. I have fed it to my button quail for years. I have one pair that is almost 6 years old and she is still laying eggs (although I wish she would quit).
B. Quail are indeed poultry. You should study up my man. What I actually feed is a mix of the Western Dove/Quail mix, with some unmedicated chick feed and some crushed dried worms mixed in.
C. I am sorry to be the one to tell you, but button quail are bottom feeders that are often used to pick up the leavings in aviaries. Not to mention the fact that button quail are enthusiastic shit eaters.

 

[Esc_Quaily]

If it's the Western Delights mix it only has around 11% protein. I think that's too low for buttons. Maybe that's why your chicks are bundled together, they are cold. But I'm raising coturnix quail in Scotland so maybe it's a cultural thing to give buttons less protein in US? In UK its advised to feed them high protein crumb for 4-6 weeks. Even then the protein is more than 11%.

 

[gwboolean]

I actually use a mix. No, measurements, but it goes something like this: I mix into a gallon jug about 60% quail seed/29% chicken feed (ground to quail size)/ and about 1% broken up dried worms.
Before that I feed them exclusively unmedicated ground chick feed for the first week and throw in some ground worms as they are nearing the 2 week mark. I also begin to throw in some of the delight at about that time. I have, in the past, had problems with some of the quail that just won't eat the feed after they start the delight and some have caused me problems, which was cured by special feeding for a couple of weeks.
Whatever the recommendations are, this works pretty well for most of the button quail I have raised.
Of course I have been known to do things half-assed and without paying attention to the details. I might have to reconsider my half-assed approach.