Button Quail Experts Needed!!!!

[PoultryQueen29]

I made a board with some questions about button quail before but now that I have gotten the ok to get some I have some questions about what I should buy and how I should care for them.

Housing:
-How many square feet does a pair of buttons need?
-Would two pairs live together peacefully or do they have to seaparate them (if so with what)?
-What should I put in the cage? (plants, domes, bedding, etc.)
-What is the best way to house them? (tank, cage, etc.)

Feeding:
-What should I feed them?
-Do hens need oyster grit or vitamins?

Other:
-How long do they live?
-Do you need to control lighting so the hens don't "overlay" and shorten their life?

I need answers from someone who has or had buttons and can tell me exactly what I need!

 

[PoultryQueen29]

Anyone?

 

[TheRealTimShady]

answers in bold(as best as i can answer)

I made a board with some questions about button quail before but now that I have gotten the ok to get some I have some questions about what I should buy and how I should care for them.

Housing:
-How many square feet does a pair of buttons need?I would give at least a 10gal tank per pair, but thats me.
-Would two pairs live together peacefully or do they have to seaparate them (if so with what)?they need to be separated into pairs, you can use 1 tank and split it with a solid mass
-What should I put in the cage? (plants, domes, bedding, etc.and)i got a fake plant in mine, a little house, sand box
-What is the best way to house them? (tank, cage, etccage is probably best, i had an issue in tanks with reflections, parters fighting b/c they thought their mate was their reflection

Feeding:
-What should I feed them?GBS!
-Do hens need oyster grit or vitamins?you can, but a good quaility gbs is all they need.

Other:
-How long do they live?no idea
-Do you need to control lighting so the hens don't "overlay" and shorten their life?I keep my birds on a timer, 14hrs of light a day(i use a fishtank light)

I need answers from someone who has or had buttons and can tell me exactly what I need!

This is my tank(i had to add the border on the bottom so they wouldn't see their reflections.

 

[PoultryQueen29]

Thanks! Someone told me to have at lease 4 square feet for 2 pairs in a cage

 

[TheRealTimShady]

everyone that i know(that REALLY knows buttons) say to keep a pair to a cage, i'm not saying you can keep 2 pairs in a cage, but depending on the males fighting could ensue

also let it be known that i am in NO WAY a button expert, i'm only repeating what i've heard from quaillady

 

[Stellar]

Yes, pairs can drive other pairs off or harm them if they aren't in a big enough space to make their own territories. I sold two pairs to the Butterfly Estates in Fort Myers FL and they have a greenhouse with the butterflies. Each pair took a side of the greenhouse. There is a bridge that is in between. If a male or female of one pairs crosses that bridge, there is mayhem. It is best to house a pair in their own environment unless you have a big enough aviary for two pairs.

 

[PoultryQueen29]

Ok thanks for the help!

Another question, how would a trio work out? I would think the more females a male has the happier he would be. But I don't know that much about quail, especially buttons.

 

[Stellar]

Button quail are monogamous so it is best to house them in the way they were designed, 1M 1F

 

[PoultryQueen29]

Alright thanks again!

 

[PetersonD]

X2 Also, if in a fish tank made sure there is adequate ventilation...