Button quail questions.

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

So, first a backstory. my old incubator had a really bad cold spot, and, as I have recently graduated high school, my nana got me a new one as a present. She also got me 24 quail eggs…………… which I don’t know anything about.
I obviously have experience with chickens, and I’ve recently gone back into Japanese (coturnix) quail raising, but I only know enough about button quail to know that they are NOT the same thing. I read online that they can be housed with a 1:1 or 1:2 male- female ratio, and also that the chicks eat high protein gamebird feed, either blended fine or made into soft mash. Supposedly they also need to be housed indoors, because they freeze and die if they are below 40 Fahrenheit.
Is there anything else I should know/ any suggestions on what to do other than shift my hatchery plan to include a purely ornamental/ pet breed?

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Anyone?

 

[Nabiki]

So, first a backstory. my old incubator had a really bad cold spot, and, as I have recently graduated high school, my nana got me a new one as a present. She also got me 24 quail eggs…………… which I don’t know anything about.
I obviously have experience with chickens, and I’ve recently gone back into Japanese (coturnix) quail raising, but I only know enough about button quail to know that they are NOT the same thing. I read online that they can be housed with a 1:1 or 1:2 male- female ratio, and also that the chicks eat high protein gamebird feed, either blended fine or made into soft mash. Supposedly they also need to be housed indoors, because they freeze and die if they are below 40 Fahrenheit.
Is there anything else I should know/ any suggestions on what to do other than shift my hatchery plan to include a purely ornamental/ pet breed?

Button quail have the same dietary requirements as coturnix quail, so that much is the same.
For incubation, they like a bit higher humidity than coturnix (40-50% until lockdown, then up to 60-65%)
They do well in pairs. You can keep two males or two females together if you like, they are not quite as vicious as coturnix.
They are originally from SE Asia, so they do not do well in cold temperatures. Not letting them get below 40F is a good guideline.
This is how I keep mine.

 

[Nabiki]

Anyone?

While we try to answer in a timely manner, keep in mind that we are in many different time zones with different schedules due to jobs, school, and other life stuff.

 

[gwboolean]

Sorry no one has responded to you.
I have been raising button quail for several years. I keep a few for pets and give most of the rest away. First, you need to know these girls are egg laying machines and that button quail are really crappy parents. Since you have an incubator, just always incubate anytime you want new ones, and keep in a separate coop until they are probably a couple of weeks old. Hen's can begin laying at just 6 weeks after hatching. The hatchlings need to stay under heat for at least 3-5 days.
The only advice after that is to try not to step on them, and when a rooster is skulking and whistling at you, be prepared for the worst attack you will every have from 2 oz. of the meanest thing on earth. It won't hurt you, but it is funny as hell. And they are damn well serious. I have to say that these little guys are about the most interesting birds/poultry I have ever seen!
I don't know anything about raising them as a poultry business, but they are pretty hardy and if you can keep the hawks/cats off of them you will get more eggs than you know what to do with. Have fun man!