Button quail vs Coturnix quail
I get alot of emails and messages and I direct people to the blog but I realize that I cannot cover everything. Therefore, if you have a bunch of questions, feel free to send a list and I will make a blog post! These questions are from Ava and I hope this helps!
First question is the main differences between buttons and coturnix in the first 2 weeks. Coturnix are hatched ready to go! They are like minions running all over looking for food and water and shiny objects and full of life. They go swimming and play dead for their naptime. Buttons however, I find to be more like turkeys. They like it hot and dry. They are not overly inquisitive on their own, and need to be prompted to participate in life the first few days. For turkeys, I will add a chicken chick to get them active, so for buttons, I add either a button that is a week older or a couple coturnix chicks. If you cannot do this, then check on them often and “stir” them up and wake them up, keep food and warm water close to heat source.
Next up are ratios. Coturnix are 1:4or5. They do not do well one on one. Buttons on the other hand are monogamous for the most part. Occasionally you can do a trio. In my set ups, I have one on ones, a trio and a group cage. watch the wear and tear in a group cage and don’t keep too many males. Each group will be different so observation is key to harmony.
The next question is about the biggest difference in raising the two breeds. It’s kinda like saying I raise dogs and cats, they are just different. I enjoy the sound and colors of the buttons. I enjoy the usefulness of the coturnix. The customer bases are different for sales. The space the buttons take up in my barn is slightly annoying, they take up more space per bird than 10 cotunix, but I like the crow in the background.
Feed. Grinding feed seems to be a hot topic. I tend to be logical. Feed crumbles are the size they are, and they birds vary in size. In my incubation room I have a cheap magic bullet. For the buttons, I give it a quick whirl to create a variety of sizes of crumble for the first few days only. I do not have bantams or standard coturnix but if I did, I might do the same, if I felt it was necessary. I do not grind for the jumbos. I would never encourage a powder grind, but creating a variety of size makes sense to me.
The next question is about enrichment or stimultion. Buttons are flighty and they do not need stimulation. LOL. Cotunix find all kinds of trouble on their own. I would be against anything in a brooder with them like a stuffed animal, that is a bacteria breeding ground. Nothing with strings as they can tangle or swallow it. Both birds are ground dwellers and do not need roosts. I use heat plates therefore they hide and jump around on those.
Dust bathes are next. Interesting observations here for me. The buttons each have a coffee can with a side cut out with shavings and shallow box of peat moss. They play in the peat moss and lay eggs in the coffee can! The coturnix however, if I give them peat moss, they lay eggs in it and squish them. I have tried shavings also and same result. Now, they do not get a dust bath because I need the eggs, but the buttons do!
I hope this answers all of Ava’s questions and if anyone has more, add in the comments below of send me a messge, happy to help!