Can quail eat egg shells

For any bird breeder, the most important part is to look after the bird’s health by taking care of its nutritional necessities. Thus, you’re required to research and make a list of all potential foods that you can feed your birds. We must mention that it’s not a good idea to keep feeding the same food over and over again. Alternatively, you can try making a schedule so that the bird can get all sorts of required nutrition. Also, feeding the same food over a long period may result in malnutrition – you don’t want that.

Similar is the case for Quails. We must admit that Quails are not as common pets as dogs or Pigeons, which makes it difficult for some of us to find sufficient research materials about Quail’s diet and health in general. For this reason alone, some Quail owners start feeding the Quails the same food as dogs and other common household birds.

People must realize that Quails are a different species and they don’t necessarily have the same diet as other birds. They may indeed eat some of those foods that a dog can eat but there’s still a wide range of available food options that you’re probably not familiar with.

One of such edible items is eggshells.

Are eggshells good food Quails?

Quail Eggs: Nutrition, Benefits, and Precautions

Eggshells are known to be one of the best foods for fulfilling calcium deficiencies. In addition to this, it also contains some amount of magnesium, phosphorus, and protein. We all know that Quails have tiny, soft bones. Feeding eggshells would not only make their bones stronger but also make the Quails healthy and active.

Another indirect benefit for Quail owners is that you get to put your kitchen waste to use. With all that being said, there are a few things that you must remember before feeding eggshells to the Quails.

Some important things to remember

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Benefits aside, eggshells also come with certain risks if fed in excess. Eggshells work the same way for Quails as any calcium and vitamin supplements would work for humans. Too much use may start showing adverse effects. Therefore, we have compiled a list of few important points that you must remember before feeding eggshells to the Quails.

Feed the eggshells occasionally: As mentioned above, eggshells only help the Quails to fulfill their necessary nutritional requirements. This means that eggshells are not meant to be given daily or they may start showing negative effects. Feeding them the eggshells only once a week is ideal.

Boiled egg along with the shell: Some Quail owners often complain that their Quails are not eating the eggshells. Well, you are not supposed to just feed them the shells. Just like humans don’t like eating plain boiled rice, Quails don’t like eating just the eggshells alone. Try serving a mashed-up hard-boiled egg along with crushed eggshells. The quails would love it for sure.

Make sure to serve crushed shells: It’s considered to be a matter of serious concern if the eggshells are not properly crushed before serving. If you’re not careful with this, the eggshells may cause an injury to the Quail’s throat or stomach. That injury could even result in death.

Heating the shells: Now, there is no evidence to support this theory, but some Quail owners like to sterilize the shells by heating them in an oven. We suggest that it’s always better to be safe than sorry, therefore, try heating the shells before crushing and serving them to the birds. Some say that this would prevent the Quails from bacteria.

When is it not recommended to feed the eggshells?

Everything You Need to Know About Quail Eggs

We have already discussed the benefits of feeding eggshells to the Quails. However, under some circumstances, it is not recommended to feed eggshells.

  1. Baby Quails: Baby Quails have a sensitive digestive system and very limited chewing abilities. Thus, they should only be fed soft foods. They may not easily swallow the eggshells or trigger an itch in their throat, which is a serious cause for concern.
  2. Digestive problems: Quails that are showing signs of digestive problems should not be fed eggshells as it may further contribute to the ongoing problem.
  3. Quails that don’t eat eggshells: Although Quails love eating crushed eggshells, this may not always be the case. If you see that your quail doesn’t like eating eggshells, don’t try forcing it to eat. Instead, just find an alternative food that is rich in calcium. This way, the Quails would be able to get the required nutrition without eating eggshells.

Foods that you can feed besides eggshells

Here are some of the best alternatives for eggshells that you can feed the Quails. These foods are rich in calcium and would help in fulfilling the required nutrition:

  • Soybeans
  • Cheese
  • Sardines
  • Milk
  • Yogurt

What’s the ideal quantity of eggshells to feed?

The Benefits and Risks of Eating Eggshells

Since we’ve already gone through most of it, the next important question that remains is, “How many eggshells should I feed my Quail”. Well, the answer to this question is two-fold. Since eggshells are not the type of food that you want to feed the quails daily, the sole reason for feeding eggshells is to fulfill the calcium requirements. For this reason, there isn’t an ideal amount of eggshells that you should feed. Just to answer this question and give you a rough idea about the range, try keeping it anywhere from half to full medium-sized eggshell per Quail.

Your bird should be fine as long as you stay within this range.

Conclusion

Now that you know the benefits and risks of feeding eggshells, it’s time to do a bit more digging and find more foods that are good for your bird’s health and its overall well-being. We agree that taking care of an animal (be it a 4-legged species or a bird), is no small deal. If you’re a newbie, you may be getting overwhelmed by the resources that you see online.

Here’s some good news for you. You don’t have to follow every guide that you see on the internet. Just take good care of your pet’s diet and keep a record of how your bird reacts to different types of food. The overall process gets easier with time.

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