Button Quail as Pets

[HouseSilkies]

Thanks!

 

[HouseSilkies]

Is it possible for Button Quail to be tamed? Like if I got them as chicks and spent every spare moment with them? I just find it hard to believe they are hard to tame!

 

[Fishkeeper]

Even then, you're very unlikely to get a tame one. Keep in mind, wild button quail are very small prey animals. They're food for a lot of things. The way they survive is by being very touchy and very flighty. Although buttons are domesticated now, they were bred for colors, not for being affectionate with humans, and they're still flighty. At best, you'll get a bird that tolerates you, maybe likes to sit on your lap sometimes. Handling them will scare them, and they don't like petting. And they're still an indoor-only bird unless you live in the tropics, they'll die of exposure if you keep them outside. If you can't have birds indoors, button quail aren't the right choice.
Coturnix are better. You might wind up with a few tame ones. They're still not going to be cuddly and affectionate, though, you need chickens for that.

 

[2 many chickens]

I have many button quail.
I love them, they are goofy and fun to watch. Also eye candy for sure. I have a couple that will allow me to pet them and eat treats out of my hand. They are flighty and do get spooked easily but after seeing my face everyday they have mellowed out. I enjoy them. Also, they are not outside birds, best indoors.
P.S here's some of my males, they are pretty chill. Wearing gloves because I was going to clean their enclosure lol

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Is it possible for Button Quail to be tamed? Like if I got them as chicks and spent every spare moment with them? I just find it hard to believe they are hard to tame!

it's is possible, but again, they can't live outside!!

 

[HouseSilkies]

Yes,I'm now aware they can't live outside! Ok,I would much rather silkie chickens anyway! Thank you all!

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Yup!

 

[DK newbie]

I'd like to chime in on the topic of buttons living outside. I know nothing of the climate in Wisconsin, but in Denmark they do perfectly fine outside, as long as they are sheltered and dry. We have winter temperatures that'll drop below 14 F on several nights and very occasionally into negative F's. People keep them in greenhouses and outdoor aviaries all over the country - it's very common. The main issue is keeping their water thawed, the birds seem happy and active. So if you can keep them above 14 F (maybe in a shed or something?), I'd not give up on them.

 

[HouseSilkies]

Thank you for the information! How hard is it to raise the chicks? Is a pair likely to breed and go broody?

 

[Fishkeeper]

Button quail are very unlikely to broody, but it's possible, though not something you should expect to see. It seems to be more likely in larger enclosures with more cover.
Button quail chicks are very small, but other than that, shouldn't be too much more difficult to raise than other quail chicks. I'd suspect your bigger problem is going to be an incubator that can properly turn the eggs.

Also, you'll need to know what you'll do with the extras. Button quail have to be kept in m/f or f/f pairs, and rarely work in trios with one or no males. If you hatch 3 males and 2 females, what are you going to do with that extra male? You might not be able to find anyone who'll want him. If you want to hatch from eggs, are you prepared to cull extra males that you can't find homes for? It's cruel to just keep them alone, and if you put multiple males together, they'll fight.