Feeding your Japanese Coturnix is very important. They need an unmedicated high protein Game bird feed of 28% or higher protein from the start of life to butcher. Protein provides the amino acids necessary for tissue growth and egg production. Adding ground oyster shell and grit is recommended as well (you can grind it up in a blender). Oyster shell has calcium carbonate which helps in strengthening bones in young chicks, and helps in egg production in breeding quail. Grit helps the bird churn the food down for easy digestion. Just like chickens, quail do need grit.
There are many brands of Game Bird crumbles, and some states only offer medicated feed, so ordering online may be your only option to get the best feed for your quail. Some feed stores may be able to order them in. I personally love the Purina brand for livestock feed and feed my quail Purina Game Bird Startena. This is a 30 percent protein feed that aids in the development and growth in a quail, especially Coturnix.
Medicated feed contain a coccidiostat, usually amprollium, which can also cause resistance later on in life. I only provide cocciostats, such as toltrazuril or corid, only when I notice that the birds need it. Therefore, it is important to always check the labels on feed bags. It should say on the tag if there is additive for coccidiosis in it. With the growing pet market, we all want what is best for our birds. Nutrition is a key aspect in providing your bird with all its needs.
We feed Purina products to our birds but we add protein content as well. 30% is very important to us. Adding Alfalfa sprouts and mealworms are options in adding that extra protein. I highly advise against cat or dog food as a protein treat. I explain this more in my newest book: The Quail Lady’s Guide to Raising Coturnix on the Homestead. Be sure to check it out!
Any feed is perishable, therefore you should store the bag in conditions where it cannot get wet, or where insects or rodents cannot get in. Please do not feed your birds feed that is spoiled, moldy, rodent infested, or insect infested. If the feed looks odd and smells odd, there is probably something wrong with it, and it may cause illness or death.
Do quail need extra calcium and grit? YES!
Adding ground oyster shell is recommended. Don’t be worried about those pullet sized large sized bits at Tractor Supply or the feed store. The birds will peck at what they need. You can always grind the oyster shells in a good blender as well. We get the 50 pound bag at Tractor Supply for $9.99 plus tax and you can’t beat that price! We use the oyster shell in our dust boxes (explained in our enrichment center). Oyster shell has calcium carbonate which helps in strengthening bones in young chicks, and helping in egg production in breeding quail.
Grit
Grit can be easily confused with oyster shell. There are two types of grit: Insoluble and Soluble. Oyster shell is a form of soluble grit. The calcium from the oyster shell gets absorbed into the blood stream and is digestible. Insoluble Grit is not the same as oyster shell. They are bits of stone that that aids a bird in digestion. Birds do not have teeth, after all, therefore the insoluble grit goes to the gizzard and helps in grinding the food down. Not all birds need grit, such as parrots, and those on a strict pelleted diet. Coturnix, quail in general, fowl, and poultry, require grit to aid them in digestion. At times they get a hold of an ingredient that is a seed hull, and need help grinding it down. The insoluble grit passes through the bird normally. Both Oyster shell and grit is inexpensive to purchase and you can mix the two together.
Always offer your quail fresh water at all times. Breeding birds will consume more water and chicks will dehydrate and die if there is no water present for an hour. To see a list of recommended supplies I would recommend, please visit our Amazon recommendations.
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