Button Quail
So what are button quail? Where to buy Button quail? How to get started with button quail?
All these are common questions. Let’s start at the beginning!
Buttons are a teeny tiny King quail. They mature to about 3-4 ounces only. They come in a variety of colors and make soothing coo sounds. They would be equivalent to the ground version of zebra finches. They can fly high and long distances but they do not perch like a Blue Jay. They are ground dwellers.
To get started with button quail, I always suggest starting local. If you can find someone locally and you can pick them up, you can likely get some if not alot, of information. Try Craigslist or local chicken or quail FB groups. If that doesn’t work, then get with me! Live birds are obviously the easiest way to get started, but hatching eggs can work too. You can order Button quail Hatching eggs here. I ship them in altered foam to get best hatch rate. The eggs are tiny, about the size of a nickel. They do have a pointy end, if you have a turner in your incubator, set them pointy side down. temp will be 99.5, same for all birds. Humidity should be 35-40 for 14 days and increase to 60% for last couple days. They take 16-17 days to hatch.
Now the hard part. Getting them thru the first week is the hardest. I have itty bitty feeders and waterers on my site that are perfect for buttons! They cannot drown in them, unless they try really hard, a bit of chick grit will fix that up tho. You can click on that amazon link to see what I am talking about, it’s 5# which will last forever. Just sprinkle it in the water trey for the first week to prevent them from getting all down in it and wet. make sure you don’t pour it out in your sink! and best news, if they eat it, its good for them!
They need to be HOT the first week. I have tried multiple methods and the best one I have come up with is a puppy pad in a tub, a small heat plate which you can get here, drop on side of the heat plat to the floor of the brooder, all the way down….the other side-raise it up about 1.5”. This way they can get under it and get to where they are comfortable. I cover the tub with a flat piece of cardboard to retain heat..about 50% of it, you still want light in there. You need to keep a screen over it as they can fly out at a week! After a week, you are about home free. At this point, just feed them 28-30% non medicated starter, warm water and watch them grow. The heat can be removed at 3 weeks and then by 4 weeks put them in a grow out pen before moving to permanent enclosure.
As far as adults, I have some happy at a 1:1 ratio, most at 1:2-3, I have one community cage at 2:6. you need to watch the behavior and adjust for temperment. Males can be sexed by observing red plumage anywhere on the body. Good enclosures will give adequate air flow and space. A guinea pig cage or a ferret cage will work, just check the bar width.
Enjoy your little additions to your house!