Button Quail Breeding

[2little_quail]

I’m looking to hatch some button quails later this year after my wedding but need some opinions and advice. I’m specifically looking for recommendations for lighting and incubators. Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[Nabiki]

I'm not sure what you mean by lighting. Keeping as close to a natural day/night cycle as you can is usually best. If you mean a heat lamp for the brooder, I use ceramic reptile heat emitters. Your brooder should have a warm end and a cool end so the chicks can choose the temperature where they're comfortable.

As for incubators, any incubator that holds a steady temperature will work. Do NOT trust the readings on the incubator. Get a calibrated thermometer or three and put them in the incubator. A salt tested hygrometer would be a good idea too.

 

[2little_quail]

I'm not sure what you mean by lighting. Keeping as close to a natural day/night cycle as you can is usually best. If you mean a heat lamp for the brooder, I use ceramic reptile heat emitters. Your brooder should have a warm end and a cool end so the chicks can choose the temperature where they're comfortable.

As for incubators, any incubator that holds a steady temperature will work. Do NOT trust the readings on the incubator. Get a calibrated thermometer or three and put them in the incubator. A salt tested hygrometer would be a good idea too.

I'm not sure what you mean by lighting. Keeping as close to a natural day/night cycle as you can is usually best. If you mean a heat lamp for the brooder, I use ceramic reptile heat emitters. Your brooder should have a warm end and a cool end so the chicks can choose the temperature where they're comfortable.

As for incubators, any incubator that holds a steady temperature will work. Do NOT trust the readings on the incubator. Get a calibrated thermometer or three and put them in the incubator. A salt tested hygrometer would be a good idea too.

 

[2little_quail]

Thank you for your thorough response! The farmer we got our quail from said they need 14 hours of light to lay and suggested supplemental lighting in addition to natural daylight. I wasn’t sure if I could just use a regular lamp or if there’s something specific I should get.
Do you recommend any specific brand for an incubator?

 

[Nabiki]

Is there a reason you want to force your buttons to lay year round? In the summer they will get enough light naturally, and if you extend their laying with artificial light you will shorten their lifespan.

In my experience it is critical for your button hens to get enough calcium. They tend to become egg bound easily.

I love my Borotto incubator, but it's not a cheap one, and I wouldn't recommend it unless you're serious about doing a lot of incubating. There are a lot of lower end incubators that should be good for a beginner. You want one with a fan and an automatic egg turner. You will need quail rails for the turner if it doesn't have universal rails (rails designed to fit most sizes of eggs) and since button eggs are so tiny, you will want to put cotton, tissue, or something in the rails to keep the eggs from falling out.

 

[2little_quail]

Is there a reason you want to force your buttons to lay year round? In the summer they will get enough light naturally, and if you extend their laying with artificial light you will shorten their lifespan.

In my experience it is critical for your button hens to get enough calcium. They tend to become egg bound easily.

I love my Borotto incubator, but it's not a cheap one, and I wouldn't recommend it unless you're serious about doing a lot of incubating. There are a lot of lower end incubators that should be good for a beginner. You want one with a fan and an automatic egg turner. You will need quail rails for the turner if it doesn't have universal rails (rails designed to fit most sizes of eggs) and since button eggs are so tiny, you will want to put cotton, tissue, or something in the rails to keep the eggs from falling out.

Oh gosh, I don’t want to force her to lay year round! I want to do one hatch come summer. I just thought I needed some form of supplemental light.
What do you give for calcium? Currently my pair is eating Purina game bird starter. I think TSC also had some chick grit, but I’m not sure if that would provide enough calcium.
Thank you for the information on the incubator. You’ve been so helpful!

 

[Nabiki]

You're welcome! I'm always happy to help.

If your current pair are adults, you probably want to transition them to an adult feed. I give calcium in the form of crushed oyster or egg shell. Buttons need it even smaller than most, so I have a stainless steel mortar and pestle that I use to crush the oyster shell into button sized pieces.

Here's an article I wrote on feed. Buttons have the same nutritional needs as other quail.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/what-to-feed-your-quail.79205/

 

[2little_quail]

You're welcome! I'm always happy to help.

If your current pair are adults, you probably want to transition them to an adult feed. I give calcium in the form of crushed oyster or egg shell. Buttons need it even smaller than most, so I have a stainless steel mortar and pestle that I use to crush the oyster shell into button sized pieces.

Here's an article I wrote on feed. Buttons have the same nutritional needs as other quail.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/what-to-feed-your-quail.79205/

Perfect! Thank you so much.

 

[007Sean]

Oh gosh, I don’t want to force her to lay year round! I want to do one hatch come summer. I just thought I needed some form of supplemental light.
What do you give for calcium? Currently my pair is eating Purina game bird starter. I think TSC also had some chick grit, but I’m not sure if that would provide enough calcium.
Thank you for the information on the incubator. You’ve been so helpful!

Chick grit is crushed granite not calcium! Which is ok for grit if no natural soil is available or they are being raised on wire and being fed insects or grains....they need the grit to help digest grains and the exoskeletons of insects.

ETA

 

[2little_quail]

Chick grit is crushed granite not calcium! Which is ok for grit if no natural soil is available or they are being raised on wire.

Thank you for your response! I figured there was a difference, but just wanted to be sure. My quail have soil available to them and are being kept in a soft sided pop up playpen.