I remember a poster on here was interested in keeping their coturnix on completely natural feed—no store bought feed.

I think this is a genius idea for keeping overhead costs down, if you can do so sustainably and cheaply.

Quail chicks need a lot of protein but that’s easily solved with a mealworm bucket and a mashing fork.

Quail adults can stand a lower level of protein, because their diet will now include mostly grains and seeds.

I’ve read that, by some accounts, grains should make up about 80% of an adult quail’s diet. So about 80% grain / 20% protein.

It stands to reason that you could plant and later dry native grains for the bulk of you’re quail’s diet, continue with your mealworm and maggot bucket, and then allow native grasses and wildflowers grown right in their pen to supplement the rest.

Has anyone tried this and found that it was cheaper, and that their quail thrive?