Quail Fact Friday!💡
As bobwhite quail chicks hatch, their diet plays a crucial role in their development. They need plenty of beta-keratin, a protein found in insects, to produce feathers quickly. For bobwhites, this means feasting on insects and other invertebrates, which make up over 80% of their diet during the first weeks of life and continue to be a significant part of their diet throughout the summer.
In areas rich in insect diversity, chicks have a better chance of thriving, as they can quickly gain weight and develop strong feathers. Weedy habitats with low vegetation provide ideal feeding grounds for young chicks, allowing them easy access to bugs, the freedom to move around without getting tangled up, and escape cover from predators.
This is why brooding habitat is so important for bobwhite quail populations!
#quailforever #quail #bobwhitequail #quailfactfriday