How much feed do 80-100 coturnix quail chicks need?

[Scooter&Suzie]

I'm planning on hatching 100 coturnix eggs in a week or so. I hear a 80% hatch rate is normal for an incubator, so I'm going to prepare for 80-100 chicks (to be safe in case more hatch than expected). I plan to sell the chicks within a week, with the possibility of keeping 6-12 to adulthood. How much feed should I purchase? 20 pounds? 50 pounds?

 

[JetCat]

100 chicks will eat 24/7 and triple in size in just a few days, they'll consume 20-25lbs a week easily.

 

[cmobley]

I buy 100 lbs purina game bird starter at a time. Thats all i feed i dont use layer i dont use anything else i raise cots they eat it from birth to death. If you get 100 lbs your gonna use it just saves trips between store runs. I even use it for my chicken bittys. Its 30% protein and never had a single issue with it. I have 80 cot eggs hatching today and tomorrow.

 

[Em Ty]

I've gone through 36 pounds for 40 chicks over 3 weeks. As you know, they eat more as they get bigger, so I'd guess about 6 pounds for the first week for 40. I do ferment the feed, though, so that seems to really cut down on how much they eat, though the first week wasn't fermented.

If you're just raising one batch, I'd guess 12-15 pounds for 80-100 birds, so I'd get 20 lbs. If you'll use it, get more, but the nutritional value declines after about 3 weeks, so it's best to only buy enough for a month at a time at most.

Please let us know how much they actually eat. I think many would like to know. I'm keeping track of my costs to grow out to 8 weeks, so I don't track weekly.

 

[mwtrees]

I finally gave up and started ordering the purina startena by the ton. Biggest thing with cots, be it babies or adults, is preventing waste. I do start my chicks on feed on a coffee can lid and then to to the slide top feeders which they get into, but can't waste a lot out of it yet. Once they are 1-1.5 weeks old I switch them to a GQF quail feeder or a Saturn feeder (3lb model) from premier 1 supplies.

Not sure I want to know how much, but, yes, I would be interested in knowing as well

 

[Tabasco Jack]

I've done a lot of searching on feed rates. Took those studies and compared what I was using and came up with a general guide.
Of course, limiting waste is a big thing with these little buggers.

I too, start with the red flip top chick feeders and then switch over to the GQF feeder.

My layers and grow out pens have the 7 inch rabbit feeders which I modified by adding a strip of metal over the opening to decrease the size. Works great except for one cage which wastes feed no matter what I do.

Anyway, here's my guide:

3.5 lbs per bird for the first 6 weeks. Then .5 lb per bird per week.

I'd be interested in anyone else's numbers.

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Okay, this gives me a good idea! I only save a couple dollars if I buy feed in 50 pound bags vs 20 pound bags, so I'll go with the 20 pounds. I'll document how much they eat each day and once I have the numbers I'll let you know! I plan to start them next week, so I should have the numbers in a few weeks

 

[Em Ty]

If you're going to keep 6-12 until adulthood, I'd probably go with the 50 lb bag.