Chinese Painted Button Quail Questions

TheQuailLover said:

Hey guys! It's TheQuailLover here! OK, so I want to know what I'm doing when I get these lovely little quails so here are some questions that I'm a bit confused about:

1. Will I be able to put the eggs in the incubator soon as they start laying, or should I wait, if I should wait, how long should I wait? hold the eggs for 7 days that will give you 7 eggs per pair of breeders = one male and one female. it is only 16 days to hatch.

2. Would it be best to keep them outside or inside? Or, could I put them outside while it is nice, and inside while it's is cold, wet, windy and rainy (including the night)? They are happiest at 70 f. they do not like cold and will die.

3. I've seen people use for their chicks a milk bottle top for them to drink out of, would they be able to drown in that? use a small lid like from a mayo jar that you put marbles in so the chicks can not fall in

4. Are they quiet? If not, how loud are they? the males crow not very loudly and the hens call back but they are less loud than a budgie.

5. When the chicks are born, I would like to sell them, what age can I start selling them? 10 weeks they should be raised in a brooder lowering the temp by 5 degrees f every week until room temp or about 70 f.

6. What food do you recommend? any game bird fed that is 22-29% protein and after 4 weeks good quality finch seed can be added at a ratio of 75% fed at 25% seed. and they must have oyster shell, crushed toa lmost a owder for calcium and they love sand to bathe and for grit.

7. I've read that you can feed them apple, cabbage, broccoli and cucumber. Do you just leave it in there so they can peck it all the way through?
I chop it extra fine and leave it for about an hour then remove it so it doesn't spoil.

8. Should I have a pair of quails to breed with or would 1 male and 3 females be better? NEVER have trios they are best kept as mated pairs.after age 7-8 weeks the chicks will need to be seperated in pairs

9. When some chicks have been born and dried off, should I put them straight in the brooder and add the other chicks that hatch later? yes as soon as they are dry. within an hour they need food and water. sprinkle the food on the floor of the brooder for several days plus have the small dish in there until you know they all are eating from the dish then do not sprinkle anymore.

I think that it is it for now. Sorry for all those questions, but I really want to know what I'm doing when I get them so I don't harm them in any way. Thank you for reading!

TheQuailLover

Hope this helps, good luck
Robin

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