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Date Posted: 18:49:04 03/01/10 Mon
Author: Charlie
Author Host/IP: 74.235.218.142
Subject: Re: Strange egg...is it a problem?
In reply to: Kristin 's message, "Re: Strange egg...is it a problem?" on 13:38:06 03/01/10 Mon

Hi Kristin-

I am going to break your post into different sections. I will be putting what you said in quotes (").

"I can switch to to oyster shell stuff, and I do give them daily vitamins in their water."

Yes, Oyster shells contains approximately 96% of calcium carbonate. Egg shells, which make up approximately 29 percent of the weight of an egg, are almost 100% calcium carbonate. When you provide oyster shells to your birds, you are making sure you are providing your bird with the necessary amounts of calcium to produce good quality egg shells.

Now, Vitamins in the water... Let me just say that a study was done, (I can get references if you'd like... I just don't have them in front of me at the moment), by an university... I believe (dont quote me on this) the Texas A&M university when they were trying to create a whiter meat quail, that quails have a very "sensitive" liver and especially BQs that are very small. So, that being said,it is easy to overdose them. PLUS as you stated, when the hen is laying, they drink double the amount of water than a non laying hen. This being said, when you put vitamins in the water, they may not drink as much water that they need to produce the albumen (the white of an egg) and in turn produce a "dehydrated" egg which the chick may have difficulties hatching and the chances are that you will have more DIS. (dead in shell) The solution to this problem is to feed a high quality diet (crumbles). Vitamins are present in the good quality crumbles. Food manufacturers are aware of the fact that birds need a balance diet so, they put the necessary vitamins in the feed. Plus, I feed finch food mixed in the food to provide the birds with the necessary oils. So, bottom line is that I do not reccomendd vitamins in the water. It is solely my opinion based on the research that I've done. HOWEVER, I do give vitamins in the water to other hookbills and finches that are on a seed only diet. :)

"My quail get plenty of natural light because they are right by the window and it's a very old building and doesn't have glass that blocks out the particular rays needed."

I am not sure that the very thin UV rays will go through the plain glass. I do know that glass diffuses the UV rays making it less potent and in turn reduce the amount of Vitamin D3. I would be sure that the feed that you purchase has Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) in it... just in case.

Yes, you can purchase game bird crumbles at any feed store. Just make sure is NON-medicated. And also, very high protein levels. At least 18% if another source of protein is given to the birds like finch seed. If no other source of protein is given OR the hens are laying OR you are rearing chicks, you should feed between 20-24%. During the summer, 16% is adequate.

I hope this helps.

Charlie

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