What do you feed quail?

[Hoonta]

So I was thinking of getting 1 or 2 quail just for a pet but what would I feed them? and just a heads up I don't know much about quail so if anyone has any tips let me know and thank you

 

[Kaya1]

I use a turkey crumble at 27% protein. Anything above 24% is good though. Plus fruits, veggies, and greens.

 

[JaeG]

Quail are social birds so need a quail friend (some will die from loneliness and they will drive you nuts with their calling if they are kept singularly). One quail would not be a happy bird. If you get Buttons you can keep a pair but they don't like to be touched or handled. Coturnix/Japanese need to be kept as a girls or boys only group, or one male to at least four females. They can be very docile especially if brought up with lots of handling and lots of exposure to humans.

 

[purslanegarden]

They can eat bird seed but it's better to give them bird feed that adds the proteins and nutrients they need, which you can find at the same places that sell chicken feed. And for treats, I have found that they like a lot of the same things as parakeets, except for things like sunflower seeds, since they really can't break into it to get to the inside. But they do eat the actual sunflower seed, if it's already de-shelled.

I've also given mine various greens and vegetables that I get from grocery store, as well as dandelion leaves and other "weeds" from around the yard.

So they are not hard to feed, once you see the variety of food that they can eat.

 

[Hoonta]

I use a turkey crumble at 27% protein. Anything above 24% is good though. Plus fruits, veggies, and greens.

Quail are social birds so need a quail friend (some will die from loneliness and they will drive you nuts with their calling if they are kept singularly). One quail would not be a happy bird. If you get Buttons you can keep a pair but they don't like to be touched or handled. Coturnix/Japanese need to be kept as a girls or boys only group, or one male to at least four females. They can be very docile especially if brought up with lots of handling and lots of exposure to humans.

They can eat bird seed but it's better to give them bird feed that adds the proteins and nutrients they need, which you can find at the same places that sell chicken feed. And for treats, I have found that they like a lot of the same things as parakeets, except for things like sunflower seeds, since they really can't break into it to get to the inside. But they do eat the actual sunflower seed, if it's already de-shelled.

I've also given mine various greens and vegetables that I get from grocery store, as well as dandelion leaves and other "weeds" from around the yard.

So they are not hard to feed, once you see the variety of food that they can eat.

Thank you

 

[room onthebroom]

We've always feed our quail 'gamer' crumbles. They also like treats of kale, butter lettuce, corn, watermelon, meal worms...

 

[room onthebroom]

A lot of people on BYC have quail. Some are for food & some are pets. You should take some time & read thru all the quail threads. There's a lot of really great info to be found if you search it out. Good luck!

 

[Kaya1]

In a lot of states their food is tax free too. I pay $17 for a 50 lb bag.

 

[BobDBirdDog]

Chicks definately need higher protien as noted above. In summer you can put out a light to attract night insects and its fun to watch the feeding frenzy! That will boost thier protien intake just in case you cant find the higher protein feeds.
Just be sure to protect the lightbulb so they do not peck at the bulb or get burned.