Can Quail Eat Cherries? Quail Diet Preferences

Quail make great backyard birds. Their small size and quiet nature make them perfect for urban and suburban living. Quail are also easy to care for. But making sure your quail are eating a proper diet is important. So a common question quail owners have is can quail eat cherries?

Are Cherries Safe for Quail?

Cherries are safe for quail to eat. Both sweet and tart cherries contain beneficial nutrients and vitamins.

Cherries contain vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. The antioxidants in cherries can boost immunity. Anthocyanins give cherries their red color and act as anti-inflammatories.

So in moderation, cherries make a healthy, natural treat for your quail.

What Fruits Can Quail Eat?

In the wild, quail are omnivores and eat a varied diet. Fruits and berries provide a supplemental source of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water.

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Many types of fruit are safe for quail to eat including:

• Berries – strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries
• Melons – cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon
• Citrus – orange, grapefruit, tangerine
• Apples
• Pears
• Grapes and raisins
• Bananas
• Peaches and nectarines
• Plums and apricots
• Mangos
• Tomatoes
• Avocados

Fruit seeds and pits contain trace amounts of cyanide. So it’s best to remove those first.

Always introduce new foods slowly. And provide fruits as occasional treats. An excess of sugar from fruit can cause obesity and other health issues.

Do Quail Like Fruit?

In general, quail enjoy eating fruit and will readily peck at fresh offerings.

Quail have a natural foraging instinct. So they appreciate the texture and colors of fruits. Their vision is attuned to notice ripe reds, oranges, and yellows in their environment.

Fruits offer a sweet, juicy treat. They provide hydration along with important phytonutrients.

Offer fruits in moderation a few times a week. Avoid allowing quail to fill up just on fruits. Their main diet should still consist of greens, vegetables, and proteins.

What Should I Feed My Quail?

Quail require a balanced diet to stay healthy and productive. Their nutritional needs differ by life stage.

Baby Quail Chicks

For the first week, newly hatched chicks only require access to water and chick starter feed. This provides 20% protein and key amino acids for growth.

Growing Quail

Quail 2-8 weeks old should eat a grower feed with around 20% protein. Provide greens like chopped kale or lettuce daily. Start offering small amounts of vegetables, fruits, and proteins.

Laying Quail Hens

Once quail begin laying eggs at 8-12 weeks old, switch to a quality 16% protein laying feed. This provides sufficient calcium for egg production.

Continue offering a varied diet with fruits, vegetables, greens, sprouted seeds, and insects. Hard boiled egg chopped up is an excellent source of protein.

Breeding Quail

Roosters need extra protein for mating and fertility. Feed a 20% game bird or turkey starter feed. Supplement with mealworms, sprouted seeds, and greens.

Senior Quail

As quail age, they can benefit from a lower protein 16% maintenance feed. Continue offering fresh produce and sprouted seeds.

Quail Diet and Nutrition

To stay healthy, quail require balanced nutrition:

• Protein – feeds muscles and eggs. Offer 15-25% protein feeds.
• Calcium – for strong eggshells and bones.
• Carbohydrates – for energy. Get from grains and produce.
• Fiber – for digestion and gut health.
• Fats – for energy reserves and absorption of vitamins.
• Vitamins and minerals – for immune function and development.
• Water – essential for hydration and body processes.

A varied diet of commercial feeds, fresh fruits, vegetables, greens, sprouts, seeds, and insects provides complete nutrition.

Quail Treat Ideas

In addition to their main diet, quail enjoy treats. Some healthy treat ideas include:

• Fresh or dried mealworms – high protein.
• Chopped hard boiled egg – great protein boost.
• Sprouted seeds – high vitamins and minerals.
• Vegetable scraps – fresh carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips.
• Fruits – berries, melons, apples, grapes.
• Greens – kale, spinach, lettuce, sprouts.
• Cooked rice, pasta – sparingly, as high carbohydrates.
• Crickets or grasshoppers.
• Frozen peas or corn – thaw first.

Treats should make up no more than 10% of total food intake. Too many treats can lead to obesity and poor nutrition. Pay attention to each quail’s condition and adjust as needed.

Are Seeds Ok for Quail?

Many people feed wild birds bread, crackers, or seed mixes. However, these are not recommended as primary quail feeds.

Seeds tend to be high in fat and carbohydrates but low in protein. While quail enjoy pecking seeds, they lack balanced nutrition.

However, as part of a varied diet, certain seeds can make excellent supplements. Sprouted seeds offer more bioavailable vitamins and proteins. Just a handful per bird twice a week is plenty.

Some good seed varieties to sprout for quail include:

• Wheat
• Barley
• Oats
• Brown rice
• Buckwheat
• Rye

Sprouting directions:

1. Soak seeds 8-12 hours
2. Drain excess water
3. Keep seeds damp in jar covered with cloth
4. Rinse twice daily until sprouts form
5. Offer sprouts when 1-2 inches long

Sprouted seeds provide a beneficial rotation treat for your homestead quail flock.

Can Quail Eat Strawberries?

Strawberries make a nutritious fruit treat for quail. A few times a week, offer a couple de-stemmed strawberries per bird.

Strawberries provide:

• Vitamin C – immune support
• Manganese – bone health
• Potassium – blood pressure and nerve transmission
• Folate – DNA synthesis
• Antioxidants like anthocyanin

Just be sure to slice larger strawberries into bite-sized pieces. Remove any green tops or stems first.

Rinse strawberries to remove any pesticide residues. Organic is ideal.

Too many strawberries can cause loose droppings. So feed frugally as part of a balanced diet.

Overall, strawberries make a yummy, healthy treat that most quail will eagerly devour.

What Vegetables Do Quail Eat?

Domesticated quail enjoy a variety of vegetable treats. Vegetables provide important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.

Some good veggies for quail include:

• Leafy greens – kale, spinach, lettuce, arugula
• Broccoli and cauliflower florets
• Chopped sweet potato or squash
• Sliced bell peppers – red, yellow, orange
• Fresh corn off the cob
• Fresh or sprouted peas
• Carrot and beet shavings
• Chopped tomato

Make sure vegetables are bite-sized to avoid choking. Introduce new vegetables slowly to allow quail gut bacteria to adjust.

Too much of any treat can lead to loose droppings. Offer just a few bites per quail 2-3 times a week.

Overall, vegetables make great additions to a balanced homestead quail diet. They mimic what quail would naturally forage in the wild.

Quail Diet Conclusion

To summarize, a healthy quail diet should include:

• Balanced commercial feed – with proper protein and nutrients for life stage
• Fresh water – clean and easily accessible
• Greens – chopped kale, spinach, lettuce – improves gut health
• Vegetables – avoids obesity from excess grain
• Sprouted seeds – bioavailable proteins and vitamins
• Mealworms – especially good for breeding males
• Fruits and berries – provides hydration and nutrients
• Grit – supports digestion in crop
• Calcium source – for laying hens – shells and bones

Cherries make a safe, nutritious fruit treat for quail. Just be sure to remove the pits first. Introduce new treats slowly. And always provide fruits in moderation along with balanced nutrition.

Following these simple guidelines will keep your quail flock healthy and productive. Observe each bird’s condition and adjust the diet to suit. Happy, robust birds lay more eggs and live full lives.

Final Thoughts

Caring for backyard poultry like quail can be very rewarding. As with any pet, their proper nutrition is key to good health.

Research what foods are safe and nutritious for quail. Provide a balanced base diet with supplemental treats. Monitor each bird’s body condition. Remove any food not being readily consumed.

Allow your quail flock to supplement their diet through foraging. Bugs, seeds, and leafy greens from the garden provide enrichment. Just be mindful of any potential toxins from plants and pesticides.

With a balanced diet and attentive care, your cherished quail will thrive for many years. Enjoy their antics and those delicious fresh eggs!

Adreena Shanum

Welcome. I’m Adreena Shanum, the proud owner of this website, and I am incredibly passionate about animals, especially poultry. I founded adreenapets.com as a labor of love, stemming from my desire to share my knowledge and experiences with poultry enthusiasts worldwide.