Coturnix quails don’t typically lay their eggs in a nest but they can still benefit from natural dried herbs in their pens! I think you’ll love the way this natural, aromatic mix in the sand bowl helps keep your covey calm and pest-free. Here’s my recipe for a beautiful, hand-crafted nesting and dust bath herb blend for Coturnix quail hens:
This article contains links to the dried herbs I purchased from Amazon.
Dust Bath Herb Blend for Coturnix Quail
Making your own quail herb blends is easy! You’re going to need some common dried culinary herbs, which may be sold in bulk at your local grocery store, plus a few dried flowers that are inexpensive on Amazon. The best part is you can customize the blend based on your budget!
Here is a visually beautiful and completely edible recipe to use for natural quail keeping:
Sourcing Ingredients
Calendula Flowers: A pound of these lightweight dried flowers is a LOT; nearly the size of a throw pillow. I use these for natural soap making plus for my chicken & quail hens so each bag is over a 1 year supply for my needs. Opt for 8 ounces (1/2 pound) or less if only using calendula for your quail hens.
Dried Lavender: These pretty little buds are so fragrant and are an inexpensive herb to add!
Dried Chamomile: Lovely white flowers with yellow centers add a calming touch to your blends.
Dried Peppermint: Sweet and inexpensive, this herb helps drive away pests.
Dried Thyme: Medicinal and edible, this culinary herb is believed to disinfect and fight bacteria.
Substitutions: You can use the dried herbs inside chamomile and peppermint tea bags if you would like a less expensive option! The finer tea bag pieces are perfect for dust bathing. Whole chamomile lends pretty white petals to the final mix but they are not truly necessary for your covey to benefit. If you are missing one ingredient, don’t worry about it – just use what you’ve got and give it a try. If your covey loves it, you’ll know the additional ingredients may be worth the investment!
Grocery Store Bulk Spices: You may be able to find some or all of these ingredients in the bulk spice and/or bulk loose leaf tea section of local grocery stores. Lavender buds are generally sold with the spices while dried chamomile, calendula, and peppermint are generally with the teas.
Safe + 100% Edible
Our recipe ingredients are all human food-grade dried herbs that are completely edible. Your Coturnix quail hens may nibble on the buds and petals, which is wonderful! All of the ingredients and suggested substitutions are quail-safe and known to have health promoting, beneficial properties. Please don’t worry if the quail hens eat some or all of the herbs!
Sand Dust Bath Herb Blend Recipe:
This recipe is given in parts so you can make as little or as much as you would like. I used a 1/2 teaspoon to measure the parts in my example images.
1 part dried peppermint leaf flakes (peppermint tea bag contents are fine to substitute!)
1 part dried thyme
1 part ground whole dried chamomile (chamomile tea bag contents are fine to substitute!)
1 part chamomile petals plucked from dried chamomile heads (optional; can also include whole flower heads)
1 part dried lavender buds
1.5 parts dried calendula flower petals (yellow petals plucked from the dried flower heads)
Directions: Pluck the petals from the calendula and chamomile flowers if desired. Use a mortar and pestle to grind some of the whole chamomile flowers or use one sachet of herbal chamomile tea. Add the peppermint, thyme and lavender buds. Stir to combine and store in an airtight jar until ready for use. Sprinkle in the dust bath sand, among the quail hides or around the aviary as desired.
Quail Hens Love this Blend!
This lovely, aromatic mix is perfect for adding to the sand bowl for dust bathing. It helps naturally repel lice, mites and tiny insects. The blend will naturally contain bits of dried herbs small enough to easily slip between the quail’s feathers. You can grind or powder the entire recipe blend in a mortar and pestle if you’re wanting a finer consistency.
Incredibly Calming Fragrance
The blend of sweet-scented lavender and chamomile together with a kiss of peppermint is deliciously pleasant. It is not overpowering at all but present enough that our noses can easily detect it. I think your covey will enjoy this gentle blend and it’s a wonderful way to use up old herbs and tea you may not have gotten around to using.
Nest & Hide Box Herbs
There’s no need to limit this mix to only the sand bowl! Sprinkle some inside the hen’s favorite hides and all around their favorite egg laying spots. (Which may also be the dust bath area!) Quail hens benefit from the essential oils dried herbs emit and will seek out these edible tidbits, especially the dried thyme, if she feels her immune system needs a boost.
Making In Bulk for Sale
Now that you have the “master” recipe, there is nothing stopping you from making this in bulk and offering it for sale. This is a wonderful add-on item for quail breeders to offer at shows or it makes a beautiful freebie to include with a quail-related purchase. Search for stand up pouch bags less than 4 inches wide for holding the lightweight dust bath herbs for sale. A coin envelope is perfect for giving away freebies and all can be stamped with your farm name or website if desired.
Let your Quail Try This Dust Bath Herb Blend!
This is so easy to mix up in a small batch that I think you’re going to love surprising your covey! If you discover a ratio or new ingredient that produces an even sweeter scent, please feel free to leave a comment and let everyone know.
More Coturnix Quail Keeping Articles:
Homemade Quail Scratch Treat (whole seed goodness!)
How to Make Oyster Shell Powder for Quail Hens
FREE Quail Coop Building Plans
For Sale in our Shop: Custom Quail Egg Carton Stamps
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