Button Quail as Pets

[HouseSilkies]

Hi everyone! I was thinking about getting a couple Button Quail as pets,and I have some questions! How much space do I need for a pair of button quail? I was planning to use aspen or pine shavings from TSC as bedding,is that fine? Can they live outside year round in Wisconsin? Are they friendly? Like if I went to pick one up,could i without too much fuss? Are they likely to come running up for treats when I approach the coop? Are they usually available at TSC? Oh! Do they smell of their coop is cleaned weekly? Thanks!

 

[Fishkeeper]

Button quail absolutely cannot live outside. They're an indoor pet in most areas.
Tractor Supply won't carry them, no.
They're very flighty and not friendly at all. You can't pick them up without scaring them. Even ones raised from an egg aren't likely to be friendly. Buttons are a looking-only bird, really.

It sounds like what you want are chickens. If you want a bird that can live outdoors, is friendly and easy to tame, and will come running up to you, you want one of the friendlier chicken breeds. Maybe silkies. Coturnix quail are a bit more tame than buttons, but are still pretty flighty, and unlikely to let you handle them.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Hello! Welcome to byc! From what I have read, they are a more flighty. But @ButtonquailGirl14 might know. She has some friendly ones.

 

[HouseSilkies]

Silkie chickens are what I've wanted FOREVER and what I would get if I was allowed! I was simply curious about Button Quail since they are so tiny. Thanks for the heads up! I only found out they existed 2 days ago! I won't get any! Thanks soooo much!!!

 

[Fishkeeper]

You could absolutely get some! They're just not an outdoor bird, or any good for petting.
Button quail need to be kept in m/f or f/f pairs. Males kept together will likely fight, and any more than 2 have a decent chance of fighting. Minimum cage size, you'll hear a lot of things. I wouldn't give them any less than 4 square feet for a pair, and more is always good. They're flighty and easily spooked, like I said, so best kept away from other pets.

The other thing that comes to mind is pigeons. I'm not sure about keeping them outside- probably that could work? They definitely need a vertical space more than chickens or quail would. But they're very intelligent birds, affectionate, and good for handling. There are lots of fancy varieties. All the pigeons you see around cities are actually ferals, like feral cats or dogs, descended from fancy ancestors that were released en masse when they stopped being popular. They aren't terribly dirty when properly cared for, and are easy enough to keep. If you want friendly birds but can't get chickens, look into pigeons.

 

[HouseSilkies]

I'm not allowed to have birds in the house. Out of ALL birds,including parakeets and such,I would pick Silkie chickens! I'll definitely look into pigeons of Silkies aren't an option! Thank you!

 

[Fishkeeper]

If you can't have birds in the house, I'd see if anyone in your area is keeping pigeons. They're feral all over the US, so I'd bet with proper protection, you could keep them outside in a little aviary.

One thing to consider, though. I'm going to take a stab in the dark and guess you might be high school age. If so, what happens when you go to college? Who takes care of the birds then?

 

[HouseSilkies]

I'm not going to college. Never wanted to,never will! I might want to become a certified dog trainer,but I found online courses I could take at home. I might want to open a ranch and teach horse back riding lessons. I might want to be a barrel racer! Not sure that's a career though! I'm also home schooled,so I'm home all day except for riding lessons! I'm trying to start a small dog walking business,but that's not going great so far! I'm going to have to go old fashioned and do posters\fliers! I have my own dog that I raised and trained myself,along with a leopard gecko! I also have two hamsters,but those won't be around longer than three years! I'm a HUGE animal lover,and taking care of them is my passion!

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Hi everyone! I was thinking about getting a couple Button Quail as pets,and I have some questions! How much space do I need for a pair of button quail? I was planning to use aspen or pine shavings from TSC as bedding,is that fine? Can they live outside year round in Wisconsin? Are they friendly? Like if I went to pick one up,could i without too much fuss? Are they likely to come running up for treats when I approach the coop? Are they usually available at TSC? Oh! Do they smell of their coop is cleaned weekly? Thanks!

Button quail absolutely cannot live outside. They're an indoor pet in most areas.
Tractor Supply won't carry them, no.
They're very flighty and not friendly at all. You can't pick them up without scaring them. Even ones raised from an egg aren't likely to be friendly. Buttons are a looking-only bird, really.

It sounds like what you want are chickens. If you want a bird that can live outdoors, is friendly and easy to tame, and will come running up to you, you want one of the friendlier chicken breeds. Maybe silkies. Coturnix quail are a bit more tame than buttons, but are still pretty flighty, and unlikely to let you handle them.

X2!

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Silkie chickens are what I've wanted FOREVER and what I would get if I was allowed! I was simply curious about Button Quail since they are so tiny. Thanks for the heads up! I only found out they existed 2 days ago! I won't get any! Thanks soooo much!!!

If quail still interested you, japanese coturnix quail are still only about softball sized and can be kept in pretty small setups, but are much more suited to the cold weather and living outdoors, especially in a northern climate. They're also not exactly affectionate but marginally less flighty than buttons.