button quail eggs. please help

[mystique26]

I'm really hoping these last 3make it and come out healthy. I know i only wanted two but if all 3make it I'm going to keep them all. I get feed pretty cheap by my house anyway. My only concern is getting proper housing when they get bigger.

 

[dc3085]

Their feed should run about $24 a bag if youre buying the right stuff. For buttons feed only game bird or turkety starter as they require about 28% protien.

You really dont want three. Button are monogamous like doves and mate for life. They should always be kept in pairs. Many people colony breed them which is resulting in damage the species, its the reason i do not and will never again sell button quail eggs or chicks. People just cant be bothered to raise them properly.

As far as housing, goes they dont need much 4-6 square feet a pair and theyll be happy forever.

 

[mystique26]

Great thanks for the info I'll just keep two then. But how do i know which two to keep? I have no idea how to tell the difference between boys and girls. The local farm sells unmedicated game bird feed that they make themselves for their own quail. It's $15 for 20lbs. N that's not too big but i just can't afford to buy one that size. They're so expensive. I might just make one

 

[GrandmaBird]

I buy the 40 pound bag of turkey pheasant feed or meatbird chicken mix it is high protein and store it in the freezer in zip close baggies or I even have quite a bit in a 5 gallon pail with a lid that fits tightly, pickles came in it to a restaurant in my area. I pay about $20 for the big bag so not to bad if you figure it will feed them for a year, if kept frozen it lasts longer.
It is hard to sex buttons when they are chicks it is best to wait until after the adult feathers come in at around 5-6 weeks of age. If the bird has reddish feathers around the vent it is a male, generally any reddish feathers is male the females are rather brown and tan. Of course you might get silver or white birds and then they are harder to sex from looking and you might have to watch their behavior to tell. The males crow, you can find video on You Tube and the males also will offer treats to the females.
Welcome to the addiction and good luck.

 

[mystique26]

I can't wait that long. The person who sold them to Me asked that i return any unwanted chicks after the first week. I'd have to know within that time frame...

 

[GrandmaBird]

Well I would tell him/her that that is not possible and if he cant wait then give them to someone else. Check with local pet stores they might want some or even know of someone who is looking. Also you can use craigslist and ebay. We have a group on Facebook too.
good luck.

 

[mystique26]

Thanks I'll see what happens. 7more days till they should hatch

 

[Bryam]

Ah, I would keep all three. These birds are no longer in the wild and they get along perfectly well in small groups, trios, pairs etc. I have 2 males and 8 females in a cage and I have no fighting, I even have females building nests and they are all working together filling them with eggs. They are lovely birds that are adaptable. Just if you have 2 males and a female you will have to get ride of a male.

Good luck!

 

[dc3085]

Ah, I would keep all three. These birds are no longer in the wild and they get along perfectly well in small groups, trios, pairs etc. I have 2 males and 8 females in a cage and I have no fighting, I even have females building nests and they are all working together filling them with eggs. They are lovely birds that are adaptable. Just if you have 2 males and a female you will have to get ride of a male.

Good luck!

Not to be rude but your button quail experience is limited to the ones you have now. Ive raised a few hundred. Have you ever seen a button lose its mate? Have you ever had one waste and die because it lost its mate? Then youve never seen just how attached they get to thier mate. They are monogamous birds, theyll literally die if they lose a mate and its not replaced. Explain to me how thier monogamous behavior is gone and colony breeding isnt forcing them to accept another behavior pattern? Have you ever seen one hen turn on another from the same colony after a year of sharing space? I have. And guess what there is almost no solution to that problem.

All that aside you are always on here asking what color is this button or that, colony breeding will eventually destroy your ability to separate colors at all. Its working on it right now. Finding buttons that breed true is a nightmare. Ive had so many colors come out of 'wild type' buttons its not even funny.

 

[Bryam]

Well, I don't agree with you. I have 7 years of experience. There are pros and cons to each case. Thank you for sharing your opinion. This is my opinion. Please be respectful!

Best of luck!