What grass can be given to quails: what is suitable for food and what should not be fed

Every poultry farmer should know what kind of grass can be given to domestic quails. After all, not all plants are created equal. The main thing is not to feed the birds with poisonous and rotten, moldy herbs. Any food that is given to quails must be he althy and of high quality. Herbs are a source of vitamins and minerals, their presence in the diet increases the immunity of birds, makes the egg yolk brighter, and the meat more tender.

What grass do quails eat

The main food for quails is crushed grain (corn, wheat, barley). As a vitamin supplement, plants can be given to birds.Free-ranging quails find the herbs they like on their own. Birds love to peck at dandelion leaves, plantain, clover, alfalfa, and cereals. In summer, quails often wander into the garden and eat young wheat sprouts, cabbage leaves, lettuce, parsley, sorrel, dill, mint, basil.

If quails are kept in a fenced yard, then it is advisable for them to add greens to the feed from the third day of life. First, the chickens are given scalded and finely chopped nettles, green onion feathers. It is useful to feed quails with woodlice, dandelions, alfalfa, clover. True, herbs, that is, green fodder, are introduced into the diet of birds gradually and at first they are given in minimal quantities.

It is important to remember that an excess of dandelion leaves can cause poisoning in quails. Nettles, before being given to birds, must be scalded with boiling water. With pleasure, quails eat finely chopped beet tops, lettuce, young cabbage.

Medicinal plants not only replenish the body with vitamins, but also treat quails from various diseases.True, some herbs cannot be given raw to birds, but decoctions can be prepared from them. In case of illness, quails are soldered with medicinal solutions. For example, for intestinal diseases, they give a decoction of St. John's wort, chamomile, and for calming - a decoction of lemon balm, mint. For the prevention of helminthic diseases, it is useful to add tansy, yarrow to the feed.

It is important to remember that, in addition to he alth benefits, the presence of greens in the diet of quails affects the color of egg yolks, giving them a rich orange hue. It is useful for laying hens to give alfalfa, scalded nettles, dandelions, spinach, basil. Birds that rush should definitely eat white and red cabbage, nasturtium, as well as ripe vegetables - tomatoes, carrots, pumpkin.

If the chicks try the greens for the first time, then it is advisable to give it in a slightly dried form. It is better to collect the grass in bunches and hang it up, otherwise the quails will trample it. Plants can be crushed and added to feed.Nettles, clover, alfalfa, chamomile, St. John's wort, dill are harvested for the winter for laying hens.

What is forbidden to give?

Quails are not allowed to be fed poisonous plants. It is desirable that herbs that cause poisoning are not present in the bird walking area. Before you start the quail in the meadow, you need to mow down all poisonous plants. If the birds see some kind of grass for the first time, they have a desire to try it. It is recommended to protect them from the possibility of pecking at poisonous vegetation.

List of plants forbidden to feed quails:

• jasmine, elderberry - contain toxic substances;
• iris, clematis, castor beans, lilies of the valley, crocuses - cause diarrhea and vomiting;
• hemp, poppy, periwinkle - hallucinogens;
• euphorbia - causes oral dermatitis;
• tops of nightshade plants (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes) - has a toxic effect;
• rhubarb, henbane, hemlock, buttercups, foxglove, shepherd's purse - contain toxic substances;
• fern - causes vomiting and diarrhea;
• ivy - leads to convulsions;
• boxwood, hemlock, dope, celandine, hellebore, nightshade, backache - contain toxic substances;
• doll - causes diarrhea, convulsions;
• ergot (fungi on cereals) - leads to salivation, diarrhea, cramps;
• burdock, horse chestnut, broom, belladonna - cause poisoning.

True, it is not easy to protect quails freely walking around the site from poisonous plants. Birds can go anywhere: in the garden, in the flower bed, in any part of the garden. It is better to build a walking yard for them, that is, to protect some territory with a chain-link mesh. Quails have a very sensitive body to poisonous herbs.If the birds roam freely around the house, then you should always monitor their movement.

Signs of improper feeding

When quails eat forbidden plants, a mild eating disorder or severe poisoning can occur. If poisonous substances enter the body of birds, then the death of birds is possible. Sometimes the poisoning is so severe that the quails do not have time to show any symptoms. Birds are dying at lightning speed for no apparent reason.

You should be wary if quails are inactive, sit in one place for a long time, and are reluctant to eat food. He althy individuals, as a rule, have a good appetite and a cheerful mood. Symptoms of poisoning: paws turn blue in quails, patients refuse to eat, drink a lot, they develop diarrhea, vomiting, and profuse salivation. Poison in the body of birds often leads to convulsions, paralysis of the limbs and sudden death.

In case of poisoning, quails are given flax decoction and crushed activated charcoal. Quickly removes intoxication water with sugar. You can give the birds milk to drink. It is important that the goiter and stomach of poisoned quails quickly get rid of the contents. A good carrier is considered vegetable oil, as well as a decoction of chamomile or nettle. Yogurt or kefir will help restore the intestinal microflora.

True, diseases in quails occur not only due to poisoning by poisonous plants. Sometimes birds get sick if they are not properly fed. Chicks hatched from eggs should be given a finely chopped boiled egg, cottage cheese, millet. On the third day, chopped onion feathers can be added to the feed. To prevent intestinal disorders and infectious diseases in chicks, feed antibiotic (Baytril) is added to drinking water.

Adult quails are given crushed grain. Birds willingly eat corn, wheat, barley, oats, millet. Cereals are the main food for quails. As an additive, they give chalk, s alt, premixes, bone, fish meal and, of course, greens and vegetables. Feed the birds at least 3 times a day. Feed them poured into the feeders. Uneaten leftovers are taken after 3-4 hours. In addition to dry grain mixtures, quails are given boiled potatoes, wet mixers. Good nutrition is the key to the he alth of poultry.

If quails don't get enough nutrients, they grow slowly and get sick. The lack of vitamins and minerals, which are present in sufficient quantities in herbs, affects the appearance of birds. Feathers fall out of quails, cottage cheese deposits appear in the eyes, fluid is released from the nose, the skin of the soles of the feet peels off, and subsequently paralysis of the limbs develops.

For the prevention of beriberi in the summer it is recommended to give birds green plants. In winter, it is better to add pharmacy vitamin and mineral preparations to drinking water (required vitamins A, D, E, K, C, group B).

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