Jenbunni
In the Brooder
- Apr 19, 2017
- 12
- 0
- 15
I happened to adopt the bird that the pack picked on. There were three pairs in a shop, or had been three pairs. But her mate attacked her, according to store owners and he was sold separately from her. By the time I got to the shop, I see two pairs of rather bland button quails in very small, cramped housing.
I'm from Arkansas, but was in Texas at the time.
I have a friend who owned a button (sadly hers passed), so I knew a bit about them. I wasn't actually interested in buying until I heard they planned on killing her because she had a wound on her head and had no mate, so they were convinced no one would buy her.
She was in no way tamed.
So, the bleeding heart that I am...I adopted this lovely speckled hen (I would offer pictures if she would let me). She was much prettier than the other quails and the only speckled. But I have had her for a year, kept her on feed that is high protein. Given meal worms as treats, but not too many. And...well, her head never fully healed. She has stopped "boinking" since I made a hand sewn pillow to tie at the top of the cage and pad in case she tried.
I am about to move her to a larger space with easier access for cleaning. The problem is that I know she is very lonely. She gives the lonely hen cry often, and I've wondered if it would be safe to find another hen for her as a cage mate since the new cage is more than enough space for two buttons. The issue is that she has never laid an egg. She is very skittish of me, although we've successfully had small contact sessions a couple of times and she now waits when I feed and give her water. She has been burrowing in her pine bedding almost like making a nest a few times, but abandoned the holes and just covered them up.
Am I doing something wrong? I know she isn't comfortable with humans, but she has been becoming more accustomed. And without laying eggs, I understand hens have a longer lifespan. I just want to give her the happiest home possible. Which is why we're moving to a larger spot that I'm gonna fill with some small hiding spots/housing for her to hide if she wishes.
She loves her meal worm time the most, finding them and I've made a game out of it for her...
She is intelligent, as far as buttons go. She has escaped a few times and instead of flying into things, she just gets to floor level and waits for me to come save her from where she landed. Although she doesn't like the actual saving part, since she isn't much for being handled although I cup her gently and safely in my hands so she feels secure and when I release her back to her cage she doesn't cry out as often. But the cries eventually start again. Handling seems to give her some comfort but also stresses her, which is why I'd like to figure a way to help with her loneliness without risking her health since the wound never healed completely.
I'm from Arkansas, but was in Texas at the time.
I have a friend who owned a button (sadly hers passed), so I knew a bit about them. I wasn't actually interested in buying until I heard they planned on killing her because she had a wound on her head and had no mate, so they were convinced no one would buy her.
She was in no way tamed.
So, the bleeding heart that I am...I adopted this lovely speckled hen (I would offer pictures if she would let me). She was much prettier than the other quails and the only speckled. But I have had her for a year, kept her on feed that is high protein. Given meal worms as treats, but not too many. And...well, her head never fully healed. She has stopped "boinking" since I made a hand sewn pillow to tie at the top of the cage and pad in case she tried.
I am about to move her to a larger space with easier access for cleaning. The problem is that I know she is very lonely. She gives the lonely hen cry often, and I've wondered if it would be safe to find another hen for her as a cage mate since the new cage is more than enough space for two buttons. The issue is that she has never laid an egg. She is very skittish of me, although we've successfully had small contact sessions a couple of times and she now waits when I feed and give her water. She has been burrowing in her pine bedding almost like making a nest a few times, but abandoned the holes and just covered them up.
Am I doing something wrong? I know she isn't comfortable with humans, but she has been becoming more accustomed. And without laying eggs, I understand hens have a longer lifespan. I just want to give her the happiest home possible. Which is why we're moving to a larger spot that I'm gonna fill with some small hiding spots/housing for her to hide if she wishes.
She loves her meal worm time the most, finding them and I've made a game out of it for her...
She is intelligent, as far as buttons go. She has escaped a few times and instead of flying into things, she just gets to floor level and waits for me to come save her from where she landed. Although she doesn't like the actual saving part, since she isn't much for being handled although I cup her gently and safely in my hands so she feels secure and when I release her back to her cage she doesn't cry out as often. But the cries eventually start again. Handling seems to give her some comfort but also stresses her, which is why I'd like to figure a way to help with her loneliness without risking her health since the wound never healed completely.