Can Quail survive of Chicken feed?

[dfhgjlod]

Is it healthy for Quail to survive on the same feed and habitat as my chickens?

thanks!

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

@007Sean can answer but I believe you need a higher protein feed for quail.

 

[R2elk]

Is it healthy for Quail to survive on the same feed and habitat as my chickens?

thanks!

Quail need at least 20% protein in their feed. The problem is that it isn't just about the protein concentration. They also need higher levels of lysine and methionine than is found in chicken feed. Unfortunately about the only feed that contains both the proper amounts of protein, lysine and methionine is a 24% protein turkey or game bird feed.

A habitat designed for chickens is far from ideal for quail.

 

[007Sean]

They can but not successfully. Gamebirds and chickens don't mix. Chickens carry diseases that they can tolerate but will kill gamebirds.
Also, gamebirds need higher protein feed than chickens. I reccomend at least a 24% protein feed for most gamebirds.

 

[Chicka_deee]

@007Sean can answer but I believe you need a higher protein feed for quail.

Also they are way to small and the chickens might think they are chicks and kill them

 

[muddy75]

I currently house my adult quail with my chickens until their separate aviary is complete. I started with a separation fence in the run for a look/don’t touch situation. of course I did this with full knowledge of the risks involved. I feed all my birds a 22% meatbird crumble but even though higher protein content, the lysine,methionine levels are not quite high enough for quail. I augment quail diet with 24% game bird as available. but That and other factors have delayed my quail egg production. My quail won’t use a coop like chickens do, so they have their own hideaways in the run. most of them prefer hanging out in the sunny areas during the day and near their hideaways at dark. Everyone is doing well with the current situation. The quail are very good at figuring out how to avoid the chickens!!


**also note that my run is 8ft solid walls on 3 sides with 8ft wire on front, covered with net roofing. quail when startled can hit the net roof and I had one little guy escape through the wire and disappear without a trace! (within a couple hours unsupervised) also have to be extremely careful not to step on little guys while tending to them

 

[davidwhit]

He uses 24% from tractor supply. Seems to be working for him.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

The week after I put my birds into 22% meat bird feed because TSC was out of their normal gamebird food I had three cases of bumblefoot spring up. I think the insufficient vitamin levels left them open to it. Never again! Just my two cents.

 

[dfhgjlod]

@Chicka_deee I would doubt this to be an issue as we have plenty of small chickens and I plan to integrate them along side some Bantam chicks. Plus they live in a fairly large enclosed area.


@R2elk Ok, so try to get separate feeds. Can Chickens eat game food?

@muddy75 I have a 3-tier cage I use when getting new animals or pet sitting (I clean throughly when transferring animals). How big does their enclosure need to be?

 

[CoturnixComplex]

1 square foot per bird minimum is a good rule of thumb. Old rabbit cages and the like usually work fantastic for small groups.