Advice about Chinese button quail

[ChineseQuailDude]

Hey! So, I have three button quails that I keep in a 5 gallon temporary enclosure (will be upgraded next Wednesday), two younger individuals, male and female, and an older laying female, as I've been told by the breeder. Sadly, the older female still hasn't laid any eggs in addition to that, she's become more timid and skittish. I made a nesting box using a crate box, and filled it with dry sphagnum moss, to see if the older female feels more secure in it and start laying eggs. The truth is that she hasn't paid the slightest attention to it, while the younger ones use it really often, and live going in and out. I'm afraid I might be doing something wrong due to my inexperience (they are my first poultry and my first birds as well), and I would really love to keep happy and healthy laying (and maybe even breeding) indoor button quail. I'd really appreciate any piece of advice you tell me and I'm willing to hear if I'm doing something wrong, in order to correct it. Thank you so much in advance

 

[DK newbie]

'5 gallon' is tiny - and most likely means it's an aquarium? If so, you are probably reaching in from above when feeding and if there is one thing birds don't like, it's being approached from above. Also, with so little space I don't assume there has been much room for adding cover? Buttons need places to hide, but often won't use boxes and houses - plants (fake or real) is much more their style. I've also had success with tunnels - apparently they feel more comfortable using something with two exits.
The young ones are probably finding it much easier to adapt to their surroundings whereas the older one has been removed from everything she has been used to all her life - possibly even removed from a partner or cage mates she was used to - and thrown into a tiny glass cage? with two unknown birds? where a huge monster attacks from above every day.. She is scared. A much larger cage (I prefer a minimum of 2x4 ft for permanent button cages) and lots of cover should help.

 

[ChineseQuailDude]

'5 gallon' is tiny - and most likely means it's an aquarium? If so, you are probably reaching in from above when feeding and if there is one thing birds don't like, it's being approached from above. Also, with so little space I don't assume there has been much room for adding cover? Buttons need places to hide, but often won't use boxes and houses - plants (fake or real) is much more their style. I've also had success with tunnels - apparently they feel more comfortable using something with two exits.
The young ones are probably finding it much easier to adapt to their surroundings whereas the older one has been removed from everything she has been used to all her life - possibly even removed from a partner or cage mates she was used to - and thrown into a tiny glass cage? with two unknown birds? where a huge monster attacks from above every day.. She is scared. A much larger cage (I prefer a minimum of 2x4 ft for permanent button cages) and lots of cover should help.

I know 5 gallon isn't big enough I've been procrastinating for some time and I shouldn't have done that. I'm going to try to get the biggest enclosure I can. The thing is than, while the older hen is more timid, she's not backed into a corner, she's not being bullied or anything like that, she's stretching, eating well and having regular dustbaths, so maybe she hasn't mated yet, which is good. I'm thinking to get another male in the future, one their enclosure is upgraded and I have more experience. Since I've just cleaned their enclosure, I've decided to remove the nesting box and leave a layer of sphagnum moss at a corner, just to see if they feel more comfortable with laying on it. I may also try to put some plants and wide cardboard tubes, so they can hide. Thank you really much for your advice!

 

[DK newbie]

Sounds like a plan. Just remember, if you get another roo, you will also need another enclosure - you can't have two pairs in the same enclosure. You might need another enclosure anyway though, as in my experience it rarely works long term to keep buttons in trios - the hens tend to start chasing each other after a while.

 

[ChineseQuailDude]

Sounds like a plan. Just remember, if you get another roo, you will also need another enclosure - you can't have two pairs in the same enclosure. You might need another enclosure anyway though, as in my experience it rarely works long term to keep buttons in trios - the hens tend to start chasing each other after a while.

That's no problem for me, I would really love to keep happy, healthy, laying ad reproductive button quail, so I'll do whatever they need

 

[jaymean]

'5 gallon' is tiny - and most likely means it's an aquarium? If so, you are probably reaching in from above when feeding and if there is one thing birds don't like, it's being approached from above. Also, with so little space I don't assume there has been much room for adding cover? Buttons need places to hide, but often won't use boxes and houses - plants (fake or real) is much more their style. I've also had success with tunnels - apparently they feel more comfortable using something with two exits.
The young ones are probably finding it much easier to adapt to their surroundings whereas the older one has been removed from everything she has been used to all her life - possibly even removed from a partner or cage mates she was used to - and thrown into a tiny glass cage? with two unknown birds? where a huge monster attacks from above every day.. She is scared. A much larger cage (I prefer a minimum of 2x4 ft for permanent button cages) and lots of cover should help.

My buttons love tunnels too. I've even used old soda boxes and cut both ends open. They run into the tunnel when they are nervous. I put in other types of hidey holes (with one exit) and they definitely seem to prefer the tunnel style instead.

 

[jaymean]

'5 gallon' is tiny - and most likely means it's an aquarium? If so, you are probably reaching in from above when feeding and if there is one thing birds don't like, it's being approached from above. Also, with so little space I don't assume there has been much room for adding cover? Buttons need places to hide, but often won't use boxes and houses - plants (fake or real) is much more their style. I've also had success with tunnels - apparently they feel more comfortable using something with two exits.
The young ones are probably finding it much easier to adapt to their surroundings whereas the older one has been removed from everything she has been used to all her life - possibly even removed from a partner or cage mates she was used to - and thrown into a tiny glass cage? with two unknown birds? where a huge monster attacks from above every day.. She is scared. A much larger cage (I prefer a minimum of 2x4 ft for permanent button cages) and lots of cover should help.

Ooh also, I had plastic aquarium plans laying around, so I zip tied them to the cage. I see them peeking out at me through the leaves. I figured it would give them extra coverage and protection. Not sure if you can do something similar with the tank. I also had a chinchilla sandbox that I put in their cage. They drag the hay into the sandbox to hide and make their nest. They build impressive nests to hide in.