Pellets versus mash for starting Bobwhite quail. Poultry Sci

ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to compare the performance of Bobwhite quail chicks fed mash or pellets. Three treatments were compared: mash, hatch through 5 weeks; mash, hatch through 2 weeks then pellets through 5 weeks; pellets, hatch through 5 weeks. A total of 4320 chicks were used in the two experiments. Feeding pellets from hatch through 5 weeks of age resulted in larger body weights but did not affect feed conversion or mortality. Feeding mash from hatch through 2 weeks of age then pellets through 5 weeks of age resulted in significantly poorer feed conversion. The data suggested a possible adverse effect of changing types of feed (mash to pellets) at the end of 2 weeks