Too skinny

[AZQuail]

My gambel quail (pet) will not put on any weight.  She is very bony under her feathers.  She eats plenty of game bird grower along with fruit and millet spray. She also has daily access sand in her dusting box.  She seems healthy and happy just way too skinny compared to her wild cousins.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[quailer370]

cracked corn is good for putting on weight, you might want to try mixing some in with her diet. hope this helps.

-quailer370

[aKirA]

yep cracked corn, milo, wheat, anything high in carbon

[jchiar]

any sign of worms

[stewaw]

Well, it's most likely diet related if you've eliminated any health concerns.  Comparing your pet to it's wild cousins is comparing apples to oranges.  There are several huge differences in survival strategies.  Your pet is provided with a standard diet that regardless of our best intentions-often is simply a survival diet and not the widely varied (and more healthy) diet of a wild bird. As an example- four ounces of insects provide a LOT more nutrition than four ounces of high pro feed. You provide greater protection from predators while minimizing its ability or need to develop strong leg and flight muscles or fat for those cold winter nights.  Don't be as concerned about looking boney as you are about actual weight. Break out the cooking scales (ounces/grams) and get a reading.  Increase the cracked corn as the others say. Recheck the weight in a week. What we are striving for is as healthy a bird as we can come up with.

Good Luck,
David

[AZQuail]

Wonderful information, thanks for everyones  expertise. She is very health, just skinny.  No sign of worms and no exposure outdoors to catch them. We'll get her on the scale and add some cracked corn to her diet.  With her leasure lifestyle one would think she would be obese