Button Question for the Experts

[peepsnbunnies]

My pair of buttons laid some eggs and hatched 4 babies!

It was so neat watching them brood, hatch and raise their babies. The babies are a couple of weeks old now and my question is... I have seen the roo mating the hen already and she laid an egg today. The 4 babies are still in the cage with them. Can they all stay together as a group peacefully? Or do I need to seperate them?

Here is a cute pic.

I think the hen is a silver, the roo is silver with pink on his underside - what do you call him?

Lisa

Edited to add: these pics were taken last week.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I believe the roo is also a silver, and it looks like the babies are too. I'm not sure about leaving them all together, it would really depend on how big their pen is. I would think if they aren't fighting or anything that they would be fine, though if she starts setting again, I would probably move the older babies. They are so cute!! I wish I could let mine set eggs! I don't have my pairs seperated yet, so too much drama for babies

 

[peepsnbunnies]

Thanks Shelley! These quail are the most prolific little things. I don't want her to set right now, and I hate to take her eggs because she will never stop laying. I just don't want her to wear out so fast.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I wonder if you could trick her with marbles or something? If she were to set on them, then at least she would stop laying for a while. Or you could always leave a few eggs in there until she does start setting, then take them away. That would at least get her to stop for a week or so. Or you could change their feed (

), give them a new cuttlebone (

), or move them outside (

), these are all things that have made mine stop laying

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

Both of your birds are silver red breast..

I so wish I could get a silver red breasted female.. All I have is the silver red breast males. But I have a regular red breast female with a silver red breast male in hopes of getting the color of female I want..

Congrats on the babies. I have 4 mother raised babies too.. But I had to remove my male. He was attaching the babies. The babies are 8 weeks old now. And they are still with their momma. And she still hasnt layed any eggs yet.

I would just keep an eye on them to make sure every thing is going well..

Hey shellyd2008.. My buttons also stop laying whenever I clean their cages. At least for a day or two. Silly birds..

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
How can you tell they are silver redbreasts? I have some like that as well. Is it because of the barring on the hen?

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

Do you see the lighter patch under the females chin. Almost looks like a male marking but different.. I was told those are red breasted females. And they are kind of speckled. I have a regular colored one. I dont have pics of her on my computer. Sorry.. Maybe I can get one. But the female red breast doesnt have red on her belly..

I hope I was told right..

Here is a link that shows some pictures. They look a bit more spotty. But every individual has their own looks. Im still learning the colors too..

http://www.zebrafinch.com/NewButtonquail/RedBreasted.html

Taking another look at the female. Her beak is real light too. She may be an ivory redbreast. But I cant seem to tell the difference between the ivory and silver very well yet..

 

[shelleyd2008]

I can't really tell on the mixed ones. There are a few colors I can, but not many.

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

I just found another link..

http://secretgardenexotics.com/BirdInfo/Excalfactoria_chinensis.htm

And it looks like it could be a mix between a silver red breast and a silver pearl..

What ever it actually is. Is is a beutiful female.. I want one.. Im no expert on color but that is what it looks like to me.

sorry to the original poster if we stole your thread..

 

[citalk2much]

You male is a silver red breasted and the female is a silver pearl. Beautiful little family. I take the babies out when mom & dad stop brooding them. To stop the laying another thing I have seen work is keeping them cooler.