Quail are small, ground-dwelling birds found across the globe, known for their quick movements and plump bodies. Their diet is directly linked to their health, growth, and reproductive output, particularly egg production. What a quail eats depends significantly on whether it is foraging in a wild habitat or living under human care in captivity. The nutritional blueprint must be carefully managed to ensure they receive the necessary balance of protein, vitamins, and minerals for a healthy life.
The Natural Diet of Wild Quail
Wild quail are opportunistic omnivores; their diet consists of both plant and animal matter, changing with the seasons and local availability. During spring and summer, foraging focuses heavily on protein-rich foods, especially insects, which are important for breeding and chick development. They actively hunt for beetles, grasshoppers, ants, and caterpillars to meet this high protein demand.
As the year progresses into fall and winter, insects become scarce, and the quail’s diet shifts primarily to seeds and plant material. They consume a wide variety of seeds from grasses, weeds, and cultivated crops, including ragweed, millet, and corn. The specific biome they inhabit determines the exact seeds and berries they find.
Quail also ingest green plant matter, such as leaves, shoots, and wild berries, when available. Access to clean, fresh water is necessary for digestion and proper hydration, even though they derive some moisture from dew and their food sources. This diverse, seasonal diet provides the foundational nutritional template that captive feeding regimens attempt to replicate.
Essential Nutritional Needs for Captive Quail
The diet of captive quail, such as Coturnix or Bobwhite, relies on structured commercial feeds designed to meet their specific nutritional requirements. Protein is the most important macronutrient, needed in varying percentages depending on the bird’s life stage. Quail chicks require a starter feed containing a high protein level, typically 24% to 30%, to support rapid growth and feather development up to about six weeks of age.
Once the birds mature, they transition to a grower or maintenance feed with a lower protein content, usually between 18% and 20%. Laying hens have an elevated demand for nutrients to sustain continuous egg production. This necessitates a layer feed with approximately 20% to 24% protein and significantly increased calcium. Providing sufficient calcium is important, as a deficiency leads to thin-shelled or soft-shelled eggs.
To ensure strong eggshells, laying hens require supplemental calcium, often provided as free-choice crushed oyster shells or limestone grit alongside their layer feed. Insoluble grit is another necessary supplement, consisting of small, hard particles like sand or fine stones. This grit is stored in the gizzard and functions as a mechanical aid for grinding up whole seeds, grains, and greens, assisting in digestion.
Safe and Unsafe Foods
While a complete commercial feed provides the necessary foundation, captive quail benefit from small amounts of supplementary treats, which should not exceed about 10% of their total diet. Acceptable additions include:
Finely chopped vegetables like carrots, peas, and cucumbers
Leafy greens such as kale and spinach
Protein-rich treats like mealworms
Small amounts of certain fruits, such as melon
Any fresh additions must be chopped into small, manageable pieces for easy consumption and to prevent choking.
Certain common household items are toxic and must never be fed to quail. These include avocado, chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol. Furthermore, parts of the nightshade family plants, such as the leaves and stems of tomatoes and potatoes, are hazardous. Raw beans and rhubarb leaves are also unsafe and should be strictly avoided.