Quail Day Old

• Smallest size class – typically around 8 g, the lightest bird we stock.
• Whole animal, single ingredient – nothing added, nothing removed.
• An entry point into quail feeding – useful for smaller snakes and hatchling monitors starting on quail.
• Frozen, not live – no feeding-response risk to your reptile and nothing to house or care for before use.

Feeder quail are graded by age rather than named size classes, since weight climbs quickly week to week. Choose a bird close to the widest part of the reptile's body, the same way you would size a mouse.

These weight figures are typical for the age class and are a guide, not a guarantee – individual birds vary. We currently stock the full range from day-old through to 6-week quail.

100% whole quail, frozen. No additives, colours, preservatives or fillers – this is an intact animal, not a formulated food.

A guaranteed analysis (crude protein, fat, fibre, moisture, ash) is not published for whole-prey items the way it is for manufactured pellets or flakes, because there is no manufacturer formulation to declare. Whole prey supplies muscle, organ, bone and feather in natural proportions, which is the basis of a whole-prey feeding diet for carnivorous reptiles.

• Suitable for: smaller carnivorous snakes and hatchling monitors that have outgrown pinkie or fuzzy mice and are starting on quail.
• Not suitable for: very small hatchlings still on pinkie mice, and reptiles that need larger, more substantial feeds – step up to a 1-week or 2-week bird instead.

Keep frozen until you're ready to feed. Thaw in a sealed bag in the fridge, or in room-temperature water changed every 10–15 minutes, until soft all the way through – never in a microwave, which cooks prey unevenly. As the smallest bird we stock, it thaws quickly, often in under an hour in the fridge. Warm the thawed quail in warm water for a few minutes before offering it, as many reptiles respond better to a warm feed. Never refreeze a thawed quail – feed it the same day or discard it.

Treat frozen prey like raw meat: thaw it separately from human food, wash your hands and any tongs or containers after handling, and disinfect the thawing area. Discard any uneaten thawed prey rather than offering it to another animal.

• Zoo Med Plastic Feeding Tongs – more hygienic than fingers when offering thawed prey of this size, and lets you add a little movement to trigger a feeding response.

There's no manufacturer warranty on a food item as such – the consumer guarantee under Australian Consumer Law that the product is of acceptable quality and matches its description still applies. Transfer it to your own freezer as soon as it arrives.

Frozen food is pick up only from our North Lakes store, because a pack that thaws on the way cannot be refrozen.

Is a day-old quail bigger or smaller than a pinkie mouse?

It's typically a little larger than a pinkie mouse by weight, with a bulkier body shape – check against your reptile's usual prey width before buying.

How quickly does it thaw?

Being the smallest bird in the range, it usually thaws in under an hour in the fridge, faster than the larger size grades.

Can I refreeze a thawed quail?

No. Once it's thawed, feed it the same day or discard it.

How many quail come in a pack?

One bird per pack, sold individually so you can buy exactly the number of feeds you need.

What's the next size up if my reptile outgrows day-old quail?

Move up to a 1-week quail, roughly 23 g, and continue up the size table as your reptile grows.