What do i feed baby quail

How to raise quail chicks – Spade & Feather

Animal Husbandry, how to raise quail, how to raise quail chicks, Quail, quail chicks canada, raising quail, raising quail chicks, toronto quail chicks - May 25, 2015

Whether you hatch your own chicks out or buy some day-olds from Spade & Feather, this quick guide will help you through raising quail chicks.

The Incubator

Once hatched, quail chicks need to remain in the incubator until dry. They can happily survive without food or water in the incubator for up to 48hrs. It is best to leave your chicks for the maximum amount of time to allow for their siblings to hatch. Every time you open your incubator to remove dry chicks, you are risking all of the other unhatched chicks. The sudden drop in temperature and humidity from opening the incubator can kill unhatched chicks.

The Brooder

Quail chicks will live the first part of their lives in a brooder. A brooder is NOT the same as an incubator. A brooder is a container that offers protection from predators, drafts and rain. Using a large rubbermaid tote with a flat bottom is ideal for brooding. The tote walls prevent drafts and stop the chicks from straying. These plastic containers are also easy to clean. Broods need to be kept indoors in a barn or house in an area free of drafts.

The Brooder Floor

Quail chicks cannot be placed directly on the plastic bottom of the brooder. Quails need something to grip otherwise they will develop splayed legs which will eventually lead to death. Splayed legs is a condition where the legs of a chick harden and develop in a position similar to the splits. The chick's mobility will decrease and it will no longer be able to feeder and drink. To prevent splayed legs, we recommend placing shelf liner in the bottom of the brooder. It should be cut to size and lie flat on the floor. Paper towels can also be used on top of the shelf liner to help absorb moisture. After 5 days, pine shavings can be added to the brooder. Never use cedar shavings as the dust can cause respiratory problems in poultry. The brooder floor should be cleaned often. All soiled shavings or paper towel should be changed.

The Feed

Quail chicks need 24 hour access to food specifically made for their nutritional needs. Do no feed them cat food, dog food, seeds or grasses. The best feed for a quail chick is a non-medicated starter crumb of 24% protein or higher. This is available at feed stores in 25kg bags or at Spade & Feather in smaller more manageable amounts here. For the first few days, chicks will struggle to eat from a feeder so it's best to sprinkle feed on a paper towel in the bottom of the brooder. The chicks will create quite a mess with the feed and tend to fling it everywhere. Remove any food that gets damp as it will develop mould and attract flies.

Water

Quail chicks are a lot cuter than they are smart. They have a tendency to drown or soak themselves through when open water containers are used. Only Quail Waterer Bases should be used. These waterers prevent drowning and are simple to use. The base screws onto a Poultry Jar and water should be refreshed twice a day.

Chicks require 24 hour access to water. To prevent bacteria from forming in the water, we recommend 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to be mixed in to every litre of water.

Heat

Quail chicks must be kept warm 24 hours a day. In the first week, chicks need to be kept at 95°F. Every week the temperature can be reduced by 5°F (see chart below).

Week 1: 95°F (35ºC)
Week 2: 90°F (32ºC)
Week 3: 85°F (29ºC)
Week 4: 80°F (26ºC)
Week 5: 75°F (24ºC)

The easiest way to keep chicks warm is by using a heat lamp. The lamp should be positioned to focus the heat on one end of the brooder to allow the chicks to escape the warmth if they start to overheat. It is very important to use an accurate thermometer to monitor the exact temperature in the brooder. If you find your chicks are huddling together under the lamp, they are too cold and the lamp should be moved closer. If you find your chicks are avoiding the warm area of the brooder, the lamp should be moved further away.

If you follow the information above, put in the time and care, your quail will grow healthy and happy!

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What Do Baby Quails Eat?

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Quails are known for being one of the more difficult birds to raise in captivity. Baby Quails are a lot more difficult to maintain than chickens, but they make a fantastic addition to any farm or large piece of property, especially if you have some birds already. Before quails can be introduced into the adult quail population, they need several weeks of special treatment.

Before you get baby quails, one of the most crucial things to remember is what they will eat. They’re stubborn food pickers, but once you figure out their feeding regimen, they’ll take care of the rest.

In this article, we’ll be going through some of the foods that you can feed to your baby quails to be able to take care of them properly. So, stay tuned!

What Do Baby Quails Eat?

From their outward appearance, quails may appear delicate and faint, but do not be fooled by their appearance. They are picky about what they eat, but understanding them is simple if you know why they’re doing it. Quails are an extremely profitable chicken breed.

Let’s take a look at some of the food items that baby quails love to eat.

Celery Celery

Celery leaves are a favorite of baby quails. The only thing they have is the leaves, which they discard. Only give them the top portion of the plant and utilize the rest to prepare the soup.

Earthworms Earthworm

With fewer gaps, a wire base may assist to cut the worms, reducing the chance of them falling through. Worms are high-nutrient feed that is among the most efficient supplementary foods available.

Eggs Boiled Egg

Quails like eggs. You may either hard-boil them and leave them for a day or two or chop the egg into granules and feed it to the quails.

Duckweed

This may be used for a variety of applications. This includes animal feed and compost enhancers, to mention two examples. You may offer baby quails food made from duckweed.

Grain Quail Feed Quail Grain Feed

The basic quail diet is made up of meals that have a protein content approaching 19 percent, with a smaller proportion of other minerals such as the baby quail food. Proteins are the major structural components of their bodies.

Do Baby Quails Eat Meat?

For baby quails, turkey feed can be used as a decent meat substitute. If you want to give the turkey food, make sure it’s not medicated. Beetles, moth caterpillars, little worms, and grasshoppers are just a few of the insects they consume. Before you make any major changes to their diet, consult with your veterinarian or a qualified nutritionist.

Quail can be given crushed chick starters. They should then be fed on liquid food starting at six weeks of age until they are about two months old when they will require solid food. Apart from proteins, broiler quail diets include trace amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and methionine.

What Do Baby Quails Eat in The Wild?

Quail are granivores in the wild. Granivores eat predominantly of grains and seeds, as opposed to animals that primarily eat meat. This does not imply that they don’t consume other types of food, such as insects, worms, and vegetation.

Quail exist in a variety of habitats and many distinct breeds may be found all around the world in the wild. Over 130 distinct quail breeds dwell in a variety of locations throughout the world. Quail prefer plants that have gone to seed and enjoy munching on fallen seeds from their stalks. They like eating ragweed, wild sweet peas, and foxtail flowers.

If they haven’t eaten in a while and their favorite food, grains, is hard to come by or in short supply, they won’t hesitate to seek out bushy nuts and fruits like currants, raspberries, and acorns.

Finally, quail will consume a few insects now and then. People who wish to boost the number of wild quail on their property will take considerable measures to ensure there are plenty of insects available. They’ll grow insect-attracting crops or plants in their fields, for example.

How Much Do Baby Quails Eat? A Tiny Baby Quail

Quails mature rapidly, reaching their peak size in about a month, but the first days of a quail are especially delicate because they are tiny.

Quails are excellent for controlling ticks and other pests on farms because they adore seeds. Quail owners may use them to get rid of ticks and other insects on their property since they like seeds. When fully grown, quail spend a lot of their time pecking in the grass and dirt. They’ll vacuum up anything that moves that they can easily catch.

When quail chicks are first born, their diets must be carefully watched. Quail babies are much more delicate than chicks or ducklings at this age. You may be wondering how a baby quail’s diet can be modified when you’ve raised chickens before. This is due to the fact that you may have had unpleasant experiences with lost chicken embryos.

As far as feeding quail babies is concerned, you should understand that they require a protein-rich diet. When caring for them, attempt to maintain a protein level of around 20 to 30%. Game bird feed with a high protein content may be purchased online or in local pet shops.

If you’re buying feed in a store, let someone working there know that you’re looking for baby quail food. The higher chance of survival for baby quails fed with a lot of protein for the first eight weeks or so. You may relax once you’ve passed that obstacle since they’ll be eating more diverse foods outside.

Remember that your baby quail will require access to clean water on a regular basis. When they’re young, baby quails, like other pets, will run around their cage a lot. They’ll track droppings into the water and overdo it, making them sick. To keep it clean, make sure you change it often.

What Are The Natural Predators of Baby Quails?

Baby quail are tiny, so there are a lot of different animal predators. Many small animals, such as raccoons, squirrels, foxes, coyotes, skunks, bobcats, dogs, and cats prefer to consume them. Owls and hawks will also seek quail eggs.

Quail are also hunted for their meat, feathers, and sportsmen enjoy. Quail numbers have decreased significantly owing to habitat loss and hunting across the world. In some parts of the world, quail species are now endangered. Quail are also subjected to inhumane animal testing in laboratories. Quail populations have decreased by over 90% owing to hunting. Baby quails are shot out directly from cannons before being subjected to cruelty through being killed by guns in several parts of the world.

Quail are bred in farms for their meat and eggs. Quails that are raised in cages suffer from high confinements, overcrowding, tension, beak trimming, sicknesses, ammonia gas fumes, and rough treatment.

Overgrazing is one of the greatest threats to quail populations. Animal agriculture pesticides are also a hazard. Quails are also victims of the pet trade. Quails are easily startled by unusual noises in captivity and become scared and hesitant when confined. They may be easily harmed or even killed while attempting to fly within cages.

How To Protect Baby Quails From Predators?

Baby quail have a very high mortality rate during their first two weeks, which may be attributed to house cats, bobcats, dogs, roadrunners, and eagles. It is believed that the baby quail death rate is around 85%. In other words, only a small number of newborns survive.

The best way to keep baby quail safe from predators is to freeze in place immediately after detecting one. When their parents give a warning call, baby quail instantly know how to be completely motionless. Because they are so well camouflaged, it appears that they simply vanish into the environment.

What can you do to improve the baby quail survival rate? One suggestion is that any ground-level birdbaths be less than one inch deep. We’ve gotten reports from people who have discovered dead baby quail in their birdbaths every year. To avoid a tragic accident, either raise the water several feet off the ground or keep it incredibly shallow.

Some people suggest placing your seed feeders near bushes and trees. When baby quails are out in the open, they are extremely vulnerable. By putting your feeders near plants, they may quickly run for cover as soon as there is a threat.

If your baby quail are having difficulties accessing their feeders, move them farther away from sliding glass doors and large windows, which can be fatal to adult quail if they fly into a window.

Are Baby Quails Healthy To Eat?

Quail eggs are a very popular dish that is eaten by communities in different parts of the world. Scientifically, quail eggs are said to be very healthy for the human body because of the nutrients and vitamins they contain.

Quail eggs are an excellent source of protein, which is essential for numerous bodily functions. Proteins are composed of amino acids, which are molecules that contain nitrogen. These amino acids can be converted into hormones and enzymes as well as being utilized as a fuel source by the body.

A lack of red blood cells is referred to as anemia. This can cause tiredness or shortness of breath. Quail eggs are high in iron, which helps to prevent anemia.

Reduce cholesterol levels. Quail eggs contain a large quantity of beneficial fatty acids that can benefit your heart health. In fact, 60% of the fat in quail eggs is composed of “good” cholesterol, which helps to balance the detrimental effects of poor cholesterol.

Cleanse your system. Today’s environment is filled with pollutants, germs, and metals. Quail eggs might help to remove pollutants from your body. Quail eggs appeared to aid in the prevention of toxicity-induced liver damage in rats. Researchers are optimistic that the same outcomes may be obtained in people, however, research is still underway.

Quail eggs contain significant amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A, which can assist you in fighting free radicals and preserving your health. Every day, our bodies struggle to combat free radicals that might harm cells, resulting in disease and aging. Vitamin C and vitamin A are abundant in quail eggs, which may help to neutralize free radicals and protect your body.

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How to feed quails at home

Quail meat and eggs are useful dietary products. They contain a large amount of easily digestible protein, practically do not cause allergies and have a delicate taste. Quail breeding is profitable, since finished products are in consistently high demand among buyers. However, in order to increase the profitability of a poultry farm or farm, it is important to provide birds with the right nutrition throughout their life cycle. The health of the entire livestock, growth rate, slaughter weight and egg production depend on the composition and quality of the feed. nine0003

Content:

Quail food varieties
Feed formulations
Features of feeding birds of different ages
Breeders' recommendations for feeding quails
Advantages of prepared feeds

Feed varieties for quails

Mixtures containing all the ingredients necessary for birds are considered complete. Such feeds are marked with the abbreviation PC and a number indicating the purpose. nine0003

PK-11/ DK-50	Chick formulas. They contain chalk, wheat, corn, a small amount of salt. For their enrichment with proteins, soybean meal is used, as well as meat and bone or fish meal. Serving volumes depend on age, but do not exceed 27 g per day per chick.
DK-52	They form the basis of the diet of adults and laying hens. The feed mixture contains 60% cereals (mainly barley, oats, corn, wheat), as well as 30% animal proteins (from fish meal) and laboratory-synthesized lysine. To increase egg production, 5% of minerals (phosphates, chalk, salts) are introduced. To increase the calorie content, bran and wheat flour are used as fillers. nine0025

Feed formulations

Cereals (oats, wheat)	These products are high in B vitamins and trace elements. Oats are recommended as the basis of the diet. Before adding to the feed, it is necessary to remove the husk from it, therefore, only peeled and sifted grain is used in ready-made mixtures.
Corn	It is the most important source of carbohydrates. It is useful to give it in combination with meat and bone or fish meal, since corn itself does not have enough protein, but there is a lot of starch. nine0025
Legumes	Rich in proteins and amino acids, as well as valuable fatty acids. For the preparation of feed mixtures, soybeans, lentils, peas, etc. are used.
Animal products	To saturate the feed with essential amino acids, meat and bone and fish meal are added to it. Both ingredients can be administered alternately or mixed. Another source of animal proteins, micro and macro elements are cottage cheese and whey. nine0025
Minerals	To stimulate digestion in quails, crushed solid particles are specially added to the feed mixtures. Most often, shells, chalk, egg shells, and gravel are used for these purposes.

Features of the diet of birds of different ages

On the 1st day of life, chicks can only be given boiled, finely chopped eggs. The next day, cottage cheese is introduced in the amount of 2 g for each chick. On the 3rd day, the chicks are offered fresh greens. Especially useful for them are onions, dandelions or young nettles. Starting from the 4th day, the content of boiled eggs in the feed gradually decreases, but the amount of cottage cheese increases. nine0003

Week-old quails can already be fed boiled fish, millet and finely grated vegetables, including carrots. However, in the first weeks it is advisable to use ready-made feed mixtures that are appropriate for age. Such compositions belong to the starting ones. For laying hens, a special compound feed is produced with the marking Dk-52. To prevent beriberi, it is recommended to give vitamin supplements to chicks from 5-6 days (usually quails are soldered with chiktonik).

From the 14th to the 28th day, chicks can be transferred to ready-made complete feed containing 24-26% proteins. At this stage, quails are actively growing, so they have an increased need for protein. If it is deficient, it is recommended to further enrich the diet of chicks with products of animal origin, for example, include cottage cheese or boiled fish in it. To prevent vitamin deficiency, increase the amount of fresh herbs. From the 14th day, fine gravel or shells can be added to the feed to stimulate the digestion process. nine0003

Additionally, it is useful for quails to give cabbage leaves, lettuce, spinach, parsley, clover, beet tops, alfalfa, stems of legumes. Greens are thoroughly crushed before adding to the mixer. Monthly young animals are gradually transferred to the main feed for quails. Particular attention should be paid to the nutrition of females who are just starting to lay eggs. To strengthen their health, the amount of vitamin supplements is increased during this period. In laying hens, the need for vitamins A and E increases by 50%. If, at the initial stage of maturation, the female needs to delay egg laying, most of the grains that are responsible for the formation of eggs are removed from the diet, and the protein content is reduced to 15%. nine0003

Chicks are smoothly transferred to adult food at the age of 30-42 days. At this stage, it is enough to feed them three times a day. When developing a recipe, it is important to take into account the effect of grains and proteins on the speed of puberty and increase / decrease their amount to speed up / slow down the process. Meat breeds are given PK-6 compound feed, which stimulates a rapid set of muscle mass.

Breeders' recommendations for feeding quails

All chicks must have easy access to drinkers. It is important to renew the water daily. In the first 3 days, it must be boiled and disinfected with potassium permanganate (just add a couple of crystals). Then you can limit yourself to only boiling. nine0003

Meat quails are fattened gradually. With a sharp transition to specialized mixtures and an increase in portions, the gastrointestinal tract of the bird does not have time to adapt. High risk of indigestion. On average, the transition takes 4 days. At first, the serving volume remains the same as for adult birds, but the percentage of fat and starchy corn in the diet increases. The process of fattening quails takes about a month.

In the last week, the daily food intake is increased by 8%. If an individual receives a balanced diet, its weight by this time is at least 160 grams. To improve the taste of meat, a few days before slaughter, fish, onions, garlic are removed from the diet and chopped carrots are added. It gives the final product a richer color. It is not recommended to include products with a pronounced smell in the diet of birds at the fattening stage. nine0003

For egg-bearing breeds, it is important to select balanced mixtures with high nutritional value. To increase the productive period, quails need to consistently receive a certain amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, micro and macro elements. They require feed with a protein content of at least 20.5%. This is a prerequisite for improving egg quality and egg production. In addition, it is useful to add crushed eggshells to the mixture to replenish calcium losses in laying hens. One bird requires 25-30 g of feed daily. However, an excess of protein is undesirable, since quails begin to lay eggs with two yolks. Excess calories are also bad. Birds gain fat and stop laying eggs. nine0003

Advantages of prepared feeds

In the production of safe balanced mixtures for quails, it is important to monitor the quality of raw materials and the correct ratio of ingredients. In small and medium-sized farms, it is difficult to organize the technological process in compliance with all standards. Acquisition of a special production line, laboratory checks, arrangement of storage facilities with certain parameters of temperature and humidity require significant costs. It is much more profitable to buy ready-made mixtures from a reliable manufacturer. nine0003

The company "Southern Crown" is engaged in the development of recipes and the production of feed for quails of all ages:

❖ cereals, legumes, herbs grown in the Kuban are used as raw materials;
❖ our products fully comply with state standards and are stored in proper conditions;
❖ you buy safe food with high nutritional value;
❖ The company has an extensive dealer network and organizes deliveries throughout the country. nine0008

Do you want to know more about our products? Leave your application on the site.

types of feed, diet and norms

Quail meat and eggs are healthy dietary products. They contain a large amount of easily digestible protein, practically do not cause allergies and have a delicate taste. It is profitable to breed quails, since finished products are in consistently high demand among buyers. Regardless of the method of keeping quails (agro-complex, farming, home conditions), it is necessary to take care of the proper feeding of quails, starting from the 1st day of life and until the moment of slaughter. The health of the entire livestock, growth rate, slaughter weight and egg production depend on the quality of nutrition. nine0003

Content:

Quail food varieties
Feed formulations
Features of the diet of birds of different ages
Breeders' recommendations for feeding meat quails
Peculiarities of feeding laying quails
Advantages of prepared feeds

Quail food varieties

Mixtures containing all the ingredients necessary for birds are considered complete. Such feeds are marked with the abbreviation PC. nine0003

PK-11/ DK-50	Mixes for chicks. They contain chalk, wheat, corn, a small amount of salt. For their enrichment with proteins, soybean meal is used, as well as meat and bone or fish meal. Serving volumes depend on age, but do not exceed 27 g per day per chick.
DK-52	They form the basis of the diet of adults and laying quails. Compound feed contains 60% of cereals (mainly barley, oats, corn, wheat), as well as 30% of animal proteins (from fish meal) and laboratory-synthesized lysine. To increase egg production, 5% of minerals (phosphates, chalk, salts) are introduced. To increase the calorie content, bran and wheat flour are used as fillers. nine0025

Feed formulations

nine0028

Cereals	Corn. It increases the productivity of quails, with it the chicks grow faster. Oats. It contains many useful trace elements. Millet. Contains a lot of fiber necessary for quail. Wheat. Often present in quail feed. Usually use fodder, crushed wheat. nine0008 Amaranth grain. Contains protein, in which lysine is 2 times more than in wheat protein. Fig. It is superior in calories to corn. Barley. Contains a lot of fiber. Sorghum. Millet alternative. Poppy seeds. They are fed to harlequin, Chinese and Japanese quails. Hemp seed. Useful in small quantities for adult quails.
Legumes	Peas. It contains 21.5% protein, it combines many of the amino acids necessary for quails. Beans. Contain up to 25% protein, they are rich in vitamins and carbohydrates. Soy. It has a large amount of protein - 37–45%, and vegetable fat, but it is suitable for feeding the bird only after undergoing moisture and heat treatment. Therefore, it is better to use soybean meal or extruded soybeans. nine0008
succulent feed	Green herbs. They are used fresh, among them it is worth highlighting nettle, dandelion, clover, alfalfa. Cabbage. It is a valuable vitamin feed. Bow pen. It attracts quails with its taste, they willingly eat it. Carrot. Suitable for quails of various ages due to the presence of a large amount of carotene in it. nine0008 Herbal flour. It can replace succulent herbs in winter. Needles and coniferous flour. Suitable as vitamin supplements. Garlic. Reduces the content of cholesterol in the blood of birds.
Crop processing products	Cakes and meals. They contain a lot of vegetable fats, proteins, potassium and phosphorus. Flaxseed, sunflower, hemp and soybean meal and cake are suitable for feeding quails. nine0008 Bran. Very useful for quails, they are eaten with pleasure.
Components of animal origin	Animal feed fat. Must be used in conjunction with vegetable fats. It has a high energy value. Its content in the diet should not exceed 5%. Blood meal. It can be used as an additive to grain mixtures. nine0008 Meal worm. It is a favorite delicacy of many birds. Meat and bone meal. Contains a lot of protein, calcium and phosphorus. Fish of various kinds. Rich in proteins, vitamins and mineral salts. Must be crushed first. As an analogue, you can use fishmeal. Fish oil. Available in pure form or with various additives. It contains vitamins A and D3. Eggs of hens and quails. Hard-boiled and chopped are the main protein food in the first week of life. nine0008
Vitamin and mineral supplements	Chalk. Use only fodder. It can be in the diet of quails both temporarily and permanently. Sand. Needed by quails for grinding some feed in the stomach. The best is pure coarse-grained river sand. Table salt. Serves the bird as a source of sodium and chlorine. It is included in the compound feed in the amount of 0.2–0.3%. nine0008 Sea and river shells. In crushed form, they are a good mineral feed for quails. Eggshell. Used as a temporary mineral top dressing.

The type of food for is selected taking into account the age of the quail and the conditions in which they are kept. In small farms or complexes with their own raw material base, it is more profitable to prepare feed mixtures on their own and enrich them with concentrated protein-vitamin-mineral supplements (PVMD). At large enterprises, it is more convenient to use ready-made complete feed containing all the necessary components. nine0003

Features of the diet of birds of different ages

On the first day of life, quails can only be given boiled, finely chopped eggs. The next day, cottage cheese is introduced in the amount of 2 g for each chick. On day 3, the chicks are offered fresh greens. Especially useful are onions, dandelions or young nettles. Starting from day 4, the content of boiled eggs in the feed gradually decreases, but the amount of cottage cheese increases.

Chicks from 14 to 28 days can be transferred to ready-made complete feed containing 24-26% proteins. At this stage, quails are actively growing, so they have an increased need for protein. With its shortage, the diet of chicks is recommended to be further enriched with products of animal origin, for example, include cottage cheese or boiled fish in it. To prevent vitamin deficiency, increase the amount of fresh herbs. From day 14, fine gravel or shells can be added to the feed to stimulate the digestion process. nine0003

Particular attention should be paid to the nutrition of females who are just starting to lay eggs. To strengthen their health, the amount of vitamin supplements is increased during this period. In laying hens, the need for vitamins A and E increases by 50%. nine0003

If, at the initial stage of female maturation, it is necessary to delay egg laying, most of the grains that are responsible for the formation of eggs are removed from the diet, and the protein content is reduced to 15%.

Chicks are gradually transferred to adult food at the age of 30–42 days. At this stage, it is enough to feed them three times a day. When developing a recipe, it is important to take into account the effect of grains and proteins on the speed of puberty and increase / decrease their amount to speed up / slow down the process. Meat breeds are given PK-6 compound feed, which stimulates a rapid set of muscle mass. nine0003

The consumption of nutrients by the body of birds in different seasons of the year and under different environmental conditions is not the same, this must be taken into account when compiling feed mixtures and determining the daily allowance.

A feature of feeding quails in the summer is an increase in the amount of fresh greens consumed per day. When bred in a private home, birds also have the opportunity to feed on insects or earthworms. In the conditions of a poultry farm, protein of animal origin is available to them only as part of the feed. nine0003

In winter, instead of fresh greenery, grass harvested from the summer is used. In the absence of natural vitamins at this time, feed mixtures should be enriched with special additives.

An important element for the drinking regime of any animal is the origin of water. When using water from a well, it should be heated each time, otherwise the birds may catch a cold.

Breeders' recommendations for feeding meat quails

All chicks must have easy access to drinkers. It is important to renew the water daily. nine0003

On average, the transition takes 4 days. At first, the serving volume remains the same as for adult birds, but the percentage of fat and starchy corn in the diet increases. The fattening process takes about a month. nine0003

Quails are placed in cages with solid walls and placed in a shaded area. Males should be kept separate from females. When fattening, quail feeding rates are taken as for an adult bird, while the amount of corn and fat increases. Fattening continues up to four weeks.

In the last week, the daily food intake is increased by 8%. If an individual receives a balanced diet, its weight by this time is at least 160 g. To improve the taste of meat, fish, onions, garlic are removed from the diet a few days before slaughter and chopped carrots are added. It gives the final product a richer color. It is not recommended to include products with a pronounced smell in the diet of birds at the fattening stage. nine0003

In carcasses of category 1, muscle tissue is well developed. There are deposits of subcutaneous fat on the chest and abdomen. Category 2 meat is classified if the muscle tissue is developed satisfactorily. Subcutaneous fat deposits may be absent.

Peculiarities of feeding laying quails

For egg breeds, it is important to select balanced mixtures with high nutritional value. To increase the productive period, quails need to consistently receive a certain amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, micro and macro elements. They require feed with a protein content of at least 20.5%. This is a prerequisite for improving egg quality and egg production. nine0003

In addition, it is useful to add crushed eggshells to the mixture to replenish calcium losses in laying hens. One bird requires 25–30 g of feed daily. However, an excess of protein is undesirable, since quails begin to lay eggs with two yolks. Excess calories are also bad. Birds gain fat and stop laying eggs.