Quail feeding for egg production

[steveR]

Sprog One has bought and incubated a small batch of Quail that have been parked with us... These are (apparently) larger birds than some strains and are kept for egg laying. About 4 weeks old now and growing like weeds.

At the moment, they are still on chick crumbs, but there is now a discussion on what to feed them as they get older. I understand they will lay from 6-7 weeks old!!! My suggestion is to move them onto layer pellets gradually over a 10 day period. Any advice welcomed.

 

[adamntitch]

You can buy quail layers but there more expensive than hens sound like there the "jumbo" strain of japanese quails

 

[steveR]

@spin cycle there is no involved... Last year it was bloody Guinea Fowl!!

Sooner she moves out of London I say....

 

[spin cycle]

@spin cycle there is no involved... Last year it was bloody Guinea Fowl!!

Sooner she moves out of London I say....

i assumed sprog 1 was about 11


peacocks next year

 

[steveR]

i assumed sprog 1 was about 11


peacocks next year

31.....going on 11....!

Suggested some goose eggs..... a resounding NO was the response!

 

[spin cycle]

31.....going on 11....!

Suggested some goose eggs..... a resounding NO was the response!

Well we've had a nice laugh even if no one else has joined in

if it makes you feel any better sprog 3 is into horses

 

[Devil's advocate]

Will a quail need a more nutrient dense ration than normal laying poultry?

How do you know which are male & female, do you know how to prepare them for the table?

 

[Devil's advocate]

Well we've had a nice laugh even if no one else has joined in

if it makes you feel any better sprog 3 is into horses

Glad my niece is into dancing, although they had to stop her, she was doing the splits too often scaring my Brother & sister in law.

 

[Hindsight]

i assumed sprog 1 was about 11


peacocks next year

I just stumbled across this thread. I too thought this was going to be about a 10 year old!

 

[steveR]

Will a quail need a more nutrient dense ration than normal laying poultry?

How do you know which are male & female, do you know how to prepare them for the table?

I cannot believe they will be much different in essence to hens, but....

I am going on size, as some of the birds are substantially larger already. But tbh, it is not MY problem! Steph is pretty good at dressing game birds, so it won't be much different.

 

[Devil's advocate]

I cannot believe they will be much different in essence to hens, but....

I am going on size, as some of the birds are substantially larger already. But tbh, it is not MY problem! Steph is pretty good at dressing game birds, so it won't be much different.

I think they need more protein, eat more insects & less seeds.

Whatever is fed to partridge in laying pens should be closer than poultry feed.