Button Quail Chat

[Quailobsessed]

27 days old. Starting to crow! From their appearance I now think my adult were only about this age when I bought them.

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And 3 days old.

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I love king quails so much!

 

[Nabiki]

Just to make sure, these guys eat the same stuff as coturnix quail, right? The person I've been talking to about getting some eggs is pretty particular about how I should be treating them.

"Their food is a mixture of hard boiled eggs and "Petamine" egg food - blended together with shells and all in a food processor. After the 3rd week I add some finch seed and some finely chopped veggies in a side dish. Later they also get some fresh growing sod and dried meal worms.."

He's also concerned that 20 square feet isn't enough for 10-12 birds.

 

[Quailobsessed]

Just to make sure, these guys eat the same stuff as coturnix quail, right? The person I've been talking to about getting some eggs is pretty particular about how I should be treating them.

"Their food is a mixture of hard boiled eggs and "Petamine" egg food - blended together with shells and all in a food processor. After the 3rd week I add some finch seed and some finely chopped veggies in a side dish. Later they also get some fresh growing sod and dried meal worms.."

He's also concerned that 20 square feet isn't enough for 10-12 birds.

I feed my king quails game bird finisher, the same feed I give to my japs. All my birds are healthy and happy.

Are you talking about putting 10-12 kings together in a 20 square foot enclosure? I keep my kings in pairs (I also have a couple of female groups but they have their own story) because unlike japs, they tend to do best paired up 1 male 1 female. Some people keep them in larger groups which you can do but I personally find them to do best in pairs.

 

[Nabiki]

I feed my king quails game bird finisher, the same feed I give to my japs. All my birds are healthy and happy.

Are you talking about putting 10-12 kings together in a 20 square foot enclosure? I keep my kings in pairs (I also have a couple of female groups but they have their own story) because unlike japs, they tend to do best paired up 1 male 1 female. Some people keep them in larger groups which you can do but I personally find them to do best in pairs.

That's what I was planning, but this guy is certain that I have to have an aviary/pen or something big.

 

[Serin]

I would do no less than 2 sq ft bird minimum. My male and female now have 3.5 each and he chases her when amorous and it sometimes still seems too small. Only one male and one female per cage or same sex broodmates.

Mine eat gamebird crumble, a little seed, boiled egg, veggies and mealworms. Petamine and egg alone does not even sound adequate nutritionally.

 

[blackoaktammy]

Just to make sure, these guys eat the same stuff as coturnix quail, right? The person I've been talking to about getting some eggs is pretty particular about how I should be treating them.

"Their food is a mixture of hard boiled eggs and "Petamine" egg food - blended together with shells and all in a food processor. After the 3rd week I add some finch seed and some finely chopped veggies in a side dish. Later they also get some fresh growing sod and dried meal worms.."

He's also concerned that 20 square feet isn't enough for 10-12 birds.

I feed my chicks gamebird starter until they lay their first egg at 6 - 8 weeks, then switch to gamebird flight feed. I give them a grit/calcium supplement, but no other extras on a regular basis. I'm too OCD about throwing off their systems. Breeder feed and hard boiled eggs and mealworms boost their protein, but if you are feeding a quality feed it has the right amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals. I use Hubbard feed, which I have found to be head and shoulders above any other brand. The difference in my birds since I switched over is amazing.

As far a space, rule of thumb for buttons is one square foot per bird. I keep pairs, trios, two males to three hens, and one larger group of two males to about 6ish hens. It all depends on their personality. Some birds do thrive in larger groups, some do better in pairs. I have a friend in LA with an outdoor aviary the size of yours, and he has a lot of buttons in there with no issues. Just make sure your have at least one hen per male, multiple hens might be better, and watch for the occasional jerk (male or hen) that wants to upset the applecart.

 

[Serin]

I feel a varied diet is inportant for their mental well being. Pellet diets offer no excitement. Since a quail spends most of its waking hours in the wild foraging I try to replicate that by hiding food etc and offering different extras daily like is done with zoo animals.

 

[Nabiki]

I just want to say that the people here are a terrible influence on me.

 

[BantyChooks]

I just want to say that the people here are a terrible influence on me. View attachment 1993638

YES!!!

 

[muddy75]

we can be arm twisters! we can figure out a way way to let bad “bee key” win sometimes!! (wish i was technically saavy enough to put in the little devil emoji)