DIY Homemade Quail Feed: 7 Simple Steps to Make It at Home

Homemade quail feed offers a natural and cost-effective alternative to commercial options. It allows quail owners to control the ingredients and ensure their birds receive optimal nutrition.

Making your own homemade quail feed involves mixing grains, seeds, and protein sources. The process is simple and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your quail, whether they’re layers, breeders, or meat birds.

This approach promotes healthier quail and potentially better egg production. So, are you ready to make homemade feed for quail? Let’s get started!

Why Make Your Own Quail Feed?

First of all, let’s quickly go over the benefits of making your own quail feed.

For starters, you can avoid fillers and unnecessary additives that are often found in commercial feed. This means your quail will get only the nutrients they need, without the fluff.

Homemade feed also allows you to cater to the specific nutritional requirements of your quail. Especially if you have different types (layers, breeders, or meat birds).

Homemade Quail Feed (How to Make It in 7 Steps)

If you’ve been raising quail for a while, you are thinking about making your own quail feed. Not only is homemade feed often more affordable, but it also gives you complete control over what your quail is eating.

Ready to get started? Here’s a detailed guide on how to make homemade quail feed in 7 simple steps.

1. Know Your Quail’s Nutritional Needs

The first step is understanding what quail needs in their diet. Quail requires a balanced diet rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Depending on whether they’re laying eggs or being raised for meat, they may have slightly different needs.

Here’s a basic guide to what quail feed should include:

• Protein: 20-24% (critical for growth, egg production, and overall health)
• Fiber: 5-7%
• Fats: 3-5%
• Calcium: Important for egg-laying quail to develop strong eggshells.

2. Gather Your Ingredients

You’ll need to gather specific grains, seeds, and protein sources to make balanced quail feed. Below is a chart that outlines the main ingredients, their purpose, and the recommended amount for a 10-pound batch of feed:

Feel free to adjust quantities slightly depending on the age and purpose of your quail (layers, breeders, or meat birds).

3. Mix the Dry Ingredients

Once you have all the ingredients, it’s time to start mixing. Use a large container or bucket to combine the cracked corn, wheat, oats, and sunflower seeds first. These are your dry ingredients that make up the bulk of the feed.

It’s important to mix thoroughly to ensure that each quail gets a balanced portion when feeding. You can use a shovel or a large spoon for this part, depending on how much feed you’re making.

4. Add Protein Sources

Next, add your protein-rich ingredients like fish meal or soybean meal, along with flaxseed.

These ingredients are crucial for the overall growth and development of your quail. Protein helps with muscle growth, feather development, and egg production, so make sure this part is well-mixed into your feed.

5. Incorporate Essential Vitamins and Minerals

Now, let’s add some of the smaller, but equally important ingredients: alfalfa meal, brewer’s yeast, oyster shells, and grit.

Alfalfa provides essential vitamins like A, D, and E, while brewer’s yeast gives a boost of Vitamin B and additional protein. Oyster shells are crucial for laying hens, as they supply much-needed calcium to form strong eggshells.

Grit is also important for digestion. Since quail don’t have teeth, they use small stones (grit) to help break down their food in their gizzards.

6. Store the Feed Properly

After you’ve mixed all the ingredients together, it’s important to store the feed in a cool, dry place. Use airtight containers or feed bins to keep the mixture fresh and protect it from moisture or pests. 

If you’re making large batches, consider dividing the feed into smaller portions so you can use them over time.

Homemade feed, just like commercial options, can spoil if exposed to heat or humidity, so keep an eye on it.

7. Offer the Feed to Your Quail

Now that you’ve made your homemade quail feed, it’s time for the final step: feeding! Gradually introduce your new feed by mixing it with the commercial feed they’re used to.

This helps avoid any digestive upsets and lets your quail adjust to the new diet.

After a week or two, you can switch completely to your homemade feed. Watch your quail closely during the transition, ensuring they are eating well and showing no signs of health issues.

Related Reads:

• What To Feed Quail For Laying Eggs
• 18 Guides On How to Care for Your Quail In Winter

Need more facts about quail feed? See this following video to nurture more!

FAQs

Queries in mind about feeding quail homemade feed? Check this Q&A to get more help!

Can I adjust the feed recipe for different types of quail?

Yes, you can adjust the quantities of ingredients based on whether your quail are layers, breeders, or meat birds.

How should I store homemade quail feed?

Store the feed in a cool, dry place using airtight containers. Or feed bins to keep it fresh and protect it from moisture and pests.

How do I transition my quail to homemade feed?

Gradually introduce the new feed by mixing it with their current commercial feed over a week or two. Then, switch completely to homemade feed.

Conclusion

Making your own quail feed is a rewarding way to ensure your birds are getting high-quality nutrition. It’s even without the unnecessary fillers and additives that come with many store-bought feeds. Plus, it’s more economical in the long run, and you can tweak the recipe to suit your flock’s specific needs.

With these 7 simple steps, you’ll be able to whip up a balanced, healthy homemade feed that your quail will love. So, what are you waiting for? Go and feed the healthiest homemade food!