It is so exciting to have Coturnix or Button quail chicks on the way! They are fragile little things and need some specialty care, which includes having their feed ground into a fine texture. I’ll walk you through how to easily do this using kitchen appliances you already own, with pictures! Here is how to make powdered game bird feed for Coturnix and Button quail chicks:
How to Make Powdered Game Bird Feed for Coturnix Quail Chicks
In the images below, I’m using Purina brand Game Bird crumbles purchased from Tractor Supply. You can find them on Amazon if local feed stores do not carry it.
Why Do Coturnix & Button Quail Need Powdered Food?
Quail chicks are tiny. This means their beaks and throats are as well. They need to have their 30% Game Bird crumbled feed pulverized into an even finer powder, about the consistency of corn meal, so they are able to swallow it.
Powder the Quail Feed Using a Kitchen Blender
I have found a kitchen blender is the easiest way to accomplish this task. Add two cups of the game bird crumbles to your blender and blend on the lowest setting for about 30 seconds. The consistency should be close to corn meal or beach sand. It is fine if there are still a few sea salt-sized granules.
Do not overfill the blender or you won’t get the powder consistency you need. Doing two cups at a time is how I get the best results.
Other Appliances Work, Too!
If you don’t have a blender, a food processor, stick blender with a chopper attachment or magic bullet will also work! Game bird crumbles are not terribly hard so if your appliance can grind coffee beans, it can easily handle the quail game bird feed. (Affiliate links.)
Store Your Powdered Quail Feed in Airtight Containers
Once the quail feed is powdered, I use a funnel to transfer it to quart sized mason jars. Each jar will hold about 4 cups of powdered feed or two blender batches when blending 2 cups of game bird crumbles at a time. Cap the jars to keep the feed dry and fresh.
Prepare in Advance before Quail Chicks Hatch
I like to grind my quail feed during the last week of incubation, just a few days before the Coturnix or Button quail chicks hatch. Once they are here, things get busy and it is nice to be able to refill the feeder quickly!
Blend Powdered Game Bird Feed in Bulk
Quail chicks can never run out of food, or it will stunt their growth. I like to blend the chick feed for the entire 3 week period that I will need it. For a hatch of 12 Coturnix quail chicks I typically need 4 quart jars of the finely ground powder and 2 quart jars of the roughly ground crumbles. By the time Coturnix quail chicks are 3 weeks old, they are eating the game bird crumbles straight from the bag.
Congratulations on Your Coming Chicks!
I hope this article with the detailed images has been helpful in teaching you how to quickly and easily make powdered game bird feed for Coturnix and Button quail chicks!
Leave a Reply