Quails are beautiful and smart birds and have been kept as pets for quite a long time now. They are top pet choices among many homeowners because they are not only easy to feed and take care of but they also lay eggs; they are also used for a poultry business. They eat a variety of foods which mostly consists of seeds and grains but they also eat insects, fruits and vegetables and also enjoy some scraps from the kitchen. Feeding a quail can be a wholesome experience if you are into these kinds of things. Since they eat a variety of food items, many people wonder if they can enjoy eating pumpkin or if it has many benefits for them. Here, we are going to clear all those doubts to make sure that your quail is healthy and thriving.
With the arrival of Halloween season, pumpkin arrives in our homes, whether we use them as décor pieces or use them to make Halloween special dishes, some part of the pumpkin is always spare. At those times, you wonder whether your quail or other pet animals would be able to eat that leftover or not; because you do not feel like wasting the rest. The pumpkin guts and seeds are enjoyed by many birds and quail is no exception. Why waste those seeds, when you know that your birds would love to feast on them? This not only saves you money but can also be an amazing food source for your pets and backyard birds.
Different birds like to eat pumpkins in different ways and sometimes birds from the same species even have different tastes or even moods. Your quail might not be in the mood of eating pumpkin one day but would eat it like crazy the other day. Overall, pumpkins do not harm most birds and luckily quail is one of them. Now, your pumpkin seeds or gut would not go to waste this Halloween. You can serve pumpkin seeds to your birds in different ways; some like to eat fresh from the pumpkin and dive right into it, while some might like it dried or even roasted. That being said, let’s move ahead.
Can quail eat pumpkin?
The answer is Yes; Quails do like to eat pumpkin and it is also good for them. It is a great little treat to feed to your quails, especially the seeds of the pumpkin. To make sure that quails can easily eat the seeds, grind them, and add them to their diet and see them enjoy it. But you should always make sure to feed them fresh pumpkins or seeds of the fresh pumpkin, avoid giving them canned pumpkin as it may have ingredients that are toxic to quails. Not only pumpkin seeds are filled with nutrients but pumpkin flesh also contains potassium and Vitamin A. Vitamin A is found in abundance in pumpkins. This is awesome because Vitamin A helps to support a healthy immune system. Pumpkins also contain potassium, which again is great for quails.
Moreover, the seeds of the Pumpkin contain zinc, vitamin E, and potassium. Vitamin E is important for the immune system to function properly. It has also been shown to help heal various quails’ diseases. Depending on what breed of quail you have, they will eat pumpkin or its seeds differently. The Jumbo Brown Coturnix Quail would easily dive right into the fresh pumpkin or it may even help you carve the pumpkin for the decoration. But, it is better to cut it into tiny pieces and grind the seeds to a perfect texture to make it easier for them to eat.
Can Quails eat pumpkin Guts?
Some people think that quails or other birds do not enjoy pumpkin gut, but that is not true. They love feeding on the pumpkin gut and it also has various benefits for them. You just have to be sure of one thing that if the texture is not right, they would not eat it, they are a little picky in terms of that. Since you have been feeding your quail for some time now, you must be aware of what kind of texture you like.
Can Quails eat pumpkin seeds?
Seeds make up almost 80% of the diet of birds and pumpkin seeds are no exception. Although pumpkin seeds are bigger than the other seeds birds eat, they are filled with nutrients that are beneficial for quails and other birds. Just like we said before, you know your quail, they most probably would not be able to eat up the seeds directly, you must grind them so that they can enjoy and consume those much-needed nutrients.
Nutrients in Pumpkin Seeds
The part of the pumpkin that is mostly enjoyed by quails is the seeds. The seeds of the pumpkin are highly nutritional and great for birds. They enjoy it most in the fall (Halloween) season to store fat to resist the cold weather. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of protein (which is what quails need), other than protein, they are also high in carbohydrates, calories, and healthy fats. Trace minerals and nutrients are also available in pumpkin seeds which completes the diet of many birds. The nutrients present in pumpkin seeds include:
- Calcium.
- Copper.
- Iron.
- Phosphorus.
- Potassium.
- Magnesium.
- Manganese.
- Zinc.
All these nutrients mentioned above are good for quails and do no harm to them or even affect their healthy bodies.
Preparing Pumpkin Seeds for Birds
Birds do enjoy fresh pumpkin seeds with no preparation needed, simply scoop out the seeds, grind them, and serve them and you are good to go. But if you want to do a little something for them and prepare some delicious seeds, you can do that by following some easy steps which do not require any hard work. First, rinse the seeds in clean water to remove the excess pulp and then spread the seeds on a lightly greased non-stick tray and roast them for 20 to 30 minutes. There is no specific time limit, just do what feels good to you, but to make sure that they do not burn do not forget to turn them over a couple of times. Once they are done, let them cool completely before serving them in their desired texture. But if you do not want to roast them, you can also let them dry naturally under the sun, turning them over whenever needed to ensure even results.
You can serve fresh, dried, or roasted pumpkin seeds to any bird including quail and they will love it. You can also fresh them fresh seeds on the day you are carving your pumpkin and save the rest for later by drying or roasting them.
What should you not feed quail?
Pumpkin Gut and Seeds are both good for quails but there are some food items that are not suitable for them and may result in some serious problems. Quails themselves are very smart and would not eat what they do not like until they are super hungry. But you should do your research before giving anything out of the ordinary to them. Always avoid salty food and any sort of meat. Avocados, anything with caffeine in it, chocolate, grape seeds, rhubarb, the stems and leaves of tomato plants, uncooked potatoes, and most citrus fruits including orange. Parsley is at times considered to be toxic for quails but it is not toxic if fed once in a while. Just make sure to not feed parsley regularly because this can be dangerous.
Quails’ should be fed high-quality food
Unlike other fowl, quail cannot eat low-quality feed without sacrificing health. This is especially important when it comes to quail being raised for breeding and laying eggs. If you can’t find high-quality quail feed, try another type of game bird feed. You can also try turkey feed, which is usually higher in protein than chicken feed, making it more suitable for quail.
- Chicken feed can make a decent substitute for meat quail.
- If you choose to go with turkey feed, make sure that it is non-medicated.
- Always refer to a qualified nutritionist before you make any substitutions.
- About 80% of a quail’s diet will consist of grains. Most quail or game bird feeds will consist of: cracked corn, grains (barley, oats, rye, and wheat), millet, milo, oat groats, popcorn, safflower seed, sunflower kernels, and sunflower seeds.
They want the perfect texture
Quails are naturally smart and do not overeat, once they are full, they do not eat. But they are picky eaters when it comes to the texture of the food. Generally, if the texture or size of the food is not to their liking, they would not eat it. Neither too small nor too big. You being their human parent must be aware of what size they like to eat in. So, when it comes to pumpkin flesh or pumpkin seeds make sure that you serve it in a perfect size, otherwise they would not eat it and you might start assuming that they do not like eating pumpkins. It could be the size of the seeds or the flesh which is not to their liking. So, good luck serving them the nicely sized pumpkin and its seeds.
Conclusion
Quails are lovely birds and enjoy eating many food items. In the Halloween season, pumpkin might be the perfect treat for them. Serve them fresh, dried, or roasted, and watch them enjoy it. Pumpkin seeds are great for most birds including quails because they are full of nutrients that benefit them.