Button Quails Are they indoors or outdoors??

[Lupine hens]

Hi All, Went to an auction yesterday and purchased 5 Button Quails(4 females 1 male).I have been reading and researching as quick as possible but since I only keep hens just now I figure this is the best resource to ask for help.
Do they need to be kept indoors or outdoors?Right now I have them in a 20 gallon aquarium with pine shavings on the bottom, a small bowl for water and another for feed.
What do I feed them??I'm not too sure how old they are so I purchased some deluxe finch food for them and have been adding in layer feed as well.(It's Sunday so all feed stores are closed.This seemed to me to be a solution.)
When they start to lay eggs should I remove the eggs or leave them in with them?
I feel I may have bit off more than I can chew but THEY WERE SOOOO CUTE and I love birds.
I also purchased 6 Cochnix quail (5 females 1 male). Any info about them would be gratefully appreciated. I have them in a small cage about 3' x 3'.Doing the same feed thing right now with them.
Thanks for any info...I'll check in later...off to another auction!!!!

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
They can't be left in the cold. Some sort of heat is needed if you aren't going to keep them inside.

1. 20 gal is a lil small, but its good for now. I kept mine in a birdcage with newspaper in the very bottom. wire platform on the floor, so droppings fall down into a seperate area.
2. Gamebird feed. Startina 30% protein is what I use. Other folks use the gamebird from TSC at 24% protein and suppliment with boiled eggs once in a while, or crushed catfood.
3. How old are they? Also a move can throw them off lay for 2-3 weeks.
4. Remove the eggs as they are layed. They won't hatch their own reliably. Everytime I hear somebody say their button went broody, I rarely hear a good ending. They don't sit on it to full term, so if hatching them, get an incubator.

Coturnix quail are the meat machines of the quail world. Same nutrition needs, they can live outside, they lay at 8-10 weeks depending on which subtype etc, will not hatch their own eggs so take them out so you don't get any egg eating, and with 5 fems 1 male you have a good ratio to keep them all together. Just don't put anymore roos in there.