Opinions for new feed

[FloorCandy]

The I’ve tried a couple different feeds so far. The best is H&H feeds game bird crumble:

https://handhfeed.com/on-line-store/game-bird-crumble-50-pounds/

This stuff is great, the birds love it, poop is clean and consistent, no tar poops, no poopy feet, overall everything is great except it’s insane price. $80 for 50 lbs is just too much to pay for eggs and occasional meat imo. Should I just be happy I found a great feed and continue using it, or look for more?

I’ve also tried this garbage:

https://www.hhfeeds.com/non-gmo-turkey-game-bird-starter

They have a layer feed I can order, but their starter was such junk, I’ll never order this again. The food was so powdery it wouldn’t pass thru my feeder, it got blocked up, and another member here posted the same experience. The birds hated it, they ate very little of it and wolfed down anything else I offered. I transitioned them slowly, but once they were consistently receiving this as 75% of their diet and 25% of the old stuff they started having brown sticky tar poop, and even on sand, their feet were cemented with this sludge. I ended up fermenting it, which has become a pain in the buns, but at least they eat it and their poop is fine.

I had also gotten a small bag of something when I first ordered all my supplies, I forget the brand, but it only came in small bags, and I guess I had an incorrect idea of how much chicks eat lol 5 lbs lasted like 8 days haha.

here are some options I’m considering:

mazuri seems a bit more pricey than other foods with similar ingredients. Seems ok, not stellar.
https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-starter-exotic-gamebird-food/dp/248792

This one is another that seems ok, not amazing, but seems to cost about $20 for 50lbs so the price is good. I would have to go get this from TSC probably, most of the others are shipped.
https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/country-feeds-gamebird

This one seems kinda crappy based on ingredients, but I’m bot
https://www.chewy.com/bluebonnet-fe...=affiliates&utm_campaign=305950&utm_content=0

this one is a bit more pricey, but seems like it might be higher quality than most I’ve listed:
https://www.chewy.com/hudson-feeds-...MIqfWBo7rA6gIVxNSzCh0uTg-sEAQYAiABEgIUzfD_BwE

I’m open to suggestions and opinions. Ideally I’d like something milled to a consistent makeup, no delicious seeds and things for them to selectively pick out, non medicated, ~24% protein, I’d be happy to be able to pronounce and recognize most of the ingredients, and I would like to reduce cost as much as I can. I don’t buy anything Purina brand.

Thank you for any feedback you provide.

 

[Eonflux]

What’s wrong with purina stuff? I just got started with quails and the local feed recommended their line. Price seem reasonable, is their feed not good?

 

[FloorCandy]

What’s wrong with purina stuff? I just got started with quails and the local feed recommended their line. Price seem reasonable, is their feed not good?

I don’t like to get into disputes about these things, I have no idea how their livestock feed is, but their dog and cat food is often considered junk by a lot of people, and you can google their class action lawsuit of beneful dog food, and they have some alleged cruelty issues regarding animal testing conditions if I remember correctly. They are owned by nestle, and I’ve tried to feed my animals foods made by companies that specialize in animal feeds and not a huge conglomerate that doesn’t care if a few pets die, because they have plenty of other products to make money to cover it up. Hills is owned by Colgate I think, Isn’t that crazy?

 

[Eonflux]

I don’t like to get into disputes about these things, I have no idea how their livestock feed is, but their dog and cat food is often considered junk by a lot of people, and you can google their class action lawsuit of beneful dog food, and they have some alleged cruelty issues regarding animal testing conditions if I remember correctly. They are owned by nestle, and I’ve tried to feed my animals foods made by companies that specialize in animal feeds and not a huge conglomerate that doesn’t care if a few pets die, because they have plenty of other products to make money to cover it up. Hills is owned by Colgate I think, Isn’t that crazy?

Fair enough, I don’t use their dogs products since I know they’re not good. The guy I got my quails from feed them the same thing and his quails are in great shape so I figured I’d try them. There aren’t that many options here as far as game bird feed so if I want something else I’d have to order online and shipping can get crazy. I’d have to see how my quails respond, wouldn’t rule out changing feed though.

 

[TwoCrows]

I agree, Purina feed for any species leaves a lot to be desired. My quail did quite well on Manna Pros Gamebird/Showbird feed. They ate it, nice plumage, laid well, stayed healthy.

https://www.mannapro.com/products/poultry/chick-care/gamebirdshowbird

 

[Eonflux]

Thanks for the suggestion, looks like my other local feed store is an authorised reseller for manna pro, will have to give them a call.