UrbanHomesteadTX
Songster
Finally made the leap and bought my first Coturnix quail!
However, this has so far already proven to be more of a challenge than the chickens were! The internet is loaded with such varied information on quail needs, it's a little difficult to figure out what's right. Everything from incubating humidity to my current issue... feed.
Yes, yes, don't remind me about the fact I'm underprepared, it's been a busy few weeks. Anyways, the realization hit me at how old my quail are getting, and that it's time to start taking them off starter and put them on adult or layer feed. Only problem is, none of the local feed stores sell Game Bird Layer, or even just general Game Bird Feed. I can only find 30% Game Starter and 14% Game Maintenance. I knew Game Maintenance wouldn't be right for my birds, as it has and even lower percentage of protein than my chicken feed does, and one thing I remembered was quail had a need for higher protein.
Research, research, research. My conclusion, there's way to many different opinions and approaches to specific needs. But, I found a couple of articles on using a mix of chicken layer feed and game bird starter to achieve the desired needs. I've also seen where some people keep them on Starter Feed with calcium supplementing on the side in the form of Oyster Shell or Egg shell. And then looked at some factual data supplied Mississippi State University on nutritional needs. The main consensus I came up with for layers was the need for 18-24% protein, and somewhere around the 2.50% mark for calcium.
So, now I want to get some opinions on this. I'd rather not to have feed shipped, mainly for the cost and irritation of it, so I thought about trying to do a mix of Chicken and Game feed. Initially I thought about mixing 16% Chicken Layer Crumbles with 30% Game Starter feed in order to hit that in-between mark of protein and calcium. But, seeing as how I intend to breed them, so there will be males eating the same feed. I know its probably in his best interest to not get overdosed with Calcium, so I also thought about using 20% Chick Starter Feed as the main feed and supplementing calcium. And I already have plenty of Chick Starter as opposed to having to buy Layer Crumbles (I only buy pellets)
From what I've been researching, and for what I've been able to find, the healthy nutritional range for quail feed is 18-24% Protein, around 2.50% Calcium, .65% Phosphorous, .45-.9% Methionine (Numbers from MSU)
My Chick Starter Feed is 20% Protein, .55% minimum Phosphorous, 0.30% minimum Methionine.
Or should I go the Game Maintenance Route and have to supplement both Calcium and Protein?
Thoughts about going any of these routes?
However, this has so far already proven to be more of a challenge than the chickens were! The internet is loaded with such varied information on quail needs, it's a little difficult to figure out what's right. Everything from incubating humidity to my current issue... feed.
Yes, yes, don't remind me about the fact I'm underprepared, it's been a busy few weeks. Anyways, the realization hit me at how old my quail are getting, and that it's time to start taking them off starter and put them on adult or layer feed. Only problem is, none of the local feed stores sell Game Bird Layer, or even just general Game Bird Feed. I can only find 30% Game Starter and 14% Game Maintenance. I knew Game Maintenance wouldn't be right for my birds, as it has and even lower percentage of protein than my chicken feed does, and one thing I remembered was quail had a need for higher protein.
Research, research, research. My conclusion, there's way to many different opinions and approaches to specific needs. But, I found a couple of articles on using a mix of chicken layer feed and game bird starter to achieve the desired needs. I've also seen where some people keep them on Starter Feed with calcium supplementing on the side in the form of Oyster Shell or Egg shell. And then looked at some factual data supplied Mississippi State University on nutritional needs. The main consensus I came up with for layers was the need for 18-24% protein, and somewhere around the 2.50% mark for calcium.
So, now I want to get some opinions on this. I'd rather not to have feed shipped, mainly for the cost and irritation of it, so I thought about trying to do a mix of Chicken and Game feed. Initially I thought about mixing 16% Chicken Layer Crumbles with 30% Game Starter feed in order to hit that in-between mark of protein and calcium. But, seeing as how I intend to breed them, so there will be males eating the same feed. I know its probably in his best interest to not get overdosed with Calcium, so I also thought about using 20% Chick Starter Feed as the main feed and supplementing calcium. And I already have plenty of Chick Starter as opposed to having to buy Layer Crumbles (I only buy pellets)
From what I've been researching, and for what I've been able to find, the healthy nutritional range for quail feed is 18-24% Protein, around 2.50% Calcium, .65% Phosphorous, .45-.9% Methionine (Numbers from MSU)
My Chick Starter Feed is 20% Protein, .55% minimum Phosphorous, 0.30% minimum Methionine.
Or should I go the Game Maintenance Route and have to supplement both Calcium and Protein?
Thoughts about going any of these routes?
Just my luck, right?
