Quail Breeder Feed Comparison Study: Effects of Three Feed Programs on Fertility, Hatch Rate, and Chick

Research Summary

  • Author: Jennifer Bryant, Bryant’s Roost

  • Category: Nutrition Research

  • Published: November 5, 2022

  • Updated: April 4, 2026

Keywords:
quail breeder feed comparison, best feed for breeder quail, quail fertility feed study, quail chick vigor nutrition, coturnix breeder feed trial

Summary:
This trial compared three feed programs in jumbo coturnix quail from hatch through breeder age to assess fertility, hatch outcomes, chick vigor, and overall bird condition. Results suggested meaningful differences in breeder performance, cleanliness, foot condition, and management burden across feed programs.

Download the Full Feed Comparison Study (PDF)


INTRODUCTION

In July 2022, I started a feed experiment with my jumbo coturnix quail to compare three different feed programs.

Because my business model is built around shipping hatching eggs, feed is not just a cost input to me. It directly affects the product I send to customers. I want strong fertility, healthy chicks, and birds that have the nutritional foundation to reach their potential. This trial was designed to compare feed programs not just by growth, but by what matters most to my business model: fertility, hatch results, and chick vigor.

HYPOTHESIS

If breeder quail are raised and maintained on different feed programs, then fertility, hatch outcomes, chick vigor, and overall bird condition will differ based on the nutritional quality and suitability of each feed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chicks used in this trial hatched on July 27, 2022 and were divided into three groups .

All groups were brooded in Hatching Time stacked 9-inch brooders and received the same water source through automatic waterers. Shop towels were used on the brooder floor for the first 10 days, and feed was weighed and provided in no-waste feeders .

Birds were weighed randomly during growth, then fully weighed at 6 weeks when they were divided into breeder sets. Breeder groups were identified with colored zip ties and moved into Hatching Time rollout cages. After that, two weeks were allowed for birds to reach full sexual maturity before eggs from each group were incubated to assess fertility, hatch rate, and chick vigor .

Feed Programs

Group 1

  • Kalmbach Gamebird Starter, 28% protein

  • Later transitioned to Kalmbach Show Flock Layer, 22%

Group 2

  • Purina Gamebird Starter, 30% protein

  • Later transitioned to Nutrena Layena, 16%

Group 3

  • Tucker Milling Quail Starter, 30% protein

  • Later transitioned to Tucker Milling Non-GMO Layer Mini Pellets, 16%

Transparency Statement

For transparency, Kalmbach donated the starter feed used in the trial, and Nutrena donated the layer feed. Tucker Milling and Purina did not respond to email inquiries .

Mortality to 6 Weeks

  • Kalmbach: 1 death

  • Purina: 2 deaths

  • Tucker Milling: 2 deaths total, including 1 due to injury

Onset of Lay

  • Kalmbach: first egg on 8/31/22

  • Purina: first egg on 8/30/22

  • Tucker Milling: first egg on 9/2/22

Breeder Incubation Phase

At 8 weeks of age, eggs from each group were incubated together in the same GQF 1502 under the same conditions, in labeled trays. No water was added during incubation. On Day 14, eggs were moved into hatching baskets in a Hatching Time incubator set at 97.8°F and 55% humidity. Chicks were counted on Day 19, and no late hatches were allowed. Chick health was assessed by Day 22 .

The chicks produced from the breeder trial were then fed Tucker Milling quail starter .

Important Note

Before setting the experimental trays, a small pre-test hatch had already been done to check fertility. Fertility in the Purina group was already known to be low, so more eggs from that group were placed in the experimental tray to provide a clearer read on that condition .

RESULTS

This trial focused on breeder performance rather than simple feed cost or early growth alone. The primary outcomes assessed were fertility, hatch results, chick vigor, bird condition, and practical management observations.

Chick Vigor

Chick vigor was reported as good overall. At two days of age, all chicks were alive and appeared healthy .

Brooder and Bird Condition Observations

Kalmbach Group

  • Calm but active birds

  • Healthy-looking feathers

  • Healthy feet

  • No poop balls on toes

  • Drier droppings with lower volume

  • Brooder stayed cleaner than the others

Purina Group

  • Extreme buildup in brooder

  • Constant need for cleaning

  • Wet droppings with distinct odor

  • Birds were flighty and agitated

  • Feet in very poor condition

  • Poop balls on majority of toes, in some cases cutting off circulation

  • Feathers were dingy and hung poorly

  • Two birds developed bumblefoot

Tucker Milling Group

  • Not as dry and clean as Kalmbach, but close second

  • Very few poop balls on toes

  • Minimal cleaning effort required

  • Healthy-looking feathers and feet

  • Drier droppings overall

DISCUSSION

This trial reinforced that breeder feed affects much more than body weight or egg production. It affects labor, cleanliness, foot health, bird behavior, and ultimately the quality of the breeding program.

For my operation, fertility was the main priority and chick vigor was second. Based on the observations from this trial, both Tucker Milling and Kalmbach performed better than the Purina/Nutrena combination in the traits that matter most to a breeder-focused hatching egg business .

The Purina group created more management burden throughout the brooding phase. Wet droppings, odor, poor foot condition, and brooder buildup all point to a feed response that was less suitable under these conditions. That matters because breeder management is not just about what birds eat on paper. It is about how they live, how they maintain condition, and how much stress and labor the system creates.

Kalmbach stood out for cleanliness, dry droppings, bird condition, and low labor. Tucker Milling also performed well, with healthy birds and good breeder outcomes. In a breeder program where the end goal is strong eggs and healthy chicks, both showed advantages over the Purina/Nutrena group in this trial.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

If your goal is producing quality hatching eggs, breeder feed should be evaluated on more than protein percentage or bag price.

This trial suggests breeders should pay attention to:

  • Fertility outcomes

  • Chick vigor

  • Dropping consistency

  • Brooder cleanliness

  • Foot condition

  • Labor required to keep birds in condition

A feed that creates wet litter, poor feet, and constant cleanup can cost more in time and bird quality than it saves in convenience or availability.

For breeders focused on hatch quality, this trial supports looking closely at how birds actually perform on feed, not just what the tag says.

CONCLUSION

My business depends on producing hatching eggs with integrity and consistency. That means my breeders have to be nourished in a way that supports fertility, hatchability, and the ability of chicks to get a strong start.

In this trial, Tucker Milling appeared to offer a strong feed option at a reasonable cost with good breeder results. Kalmbach also performed well, produced the cleanest brooder conditions, and grew the biggest birds with less labor. Purina and Nutrena were more widely available, but under the conditions of this trial they did not perform as well in the areas that mattered most to my breeding program .

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Jennifer Bryant is a poultry breeder, educator, and researcher specializing in quail incubation, hatchability, and shipping stress at Bryant’s Roost.