Getting started w quail

[calicocows]

It's debated, but mostly thought to be a combination of "powder down," disintegrated keratin sheaths from growing feathers, and dead skin cells. Some downy feathers in birds disintegrate (purposefully) into a substance called "powder down" which helps keep their feathers dry and fluffy. When birds preen, they're distributing this powder down, rearranging their feathers, pulling shed keratin and skin cells to the surface, and shaking it all out. They also distribute oil from their preening glands to condition & waterproof their outer feathers. Doing this helps keep everything orderly, dry, poofy, insulatory, and keeps them from getting stuck together/dirty. It's also why they love dust bathing, it helps keep their feathers dry and separated. And it's why sick birds that can't/aren't preening properly start looking raggedy pretty quickly.

That makes a lot of sense, thank you!!

 

[calicocows]

i am back on my insanity with the "should i get coturnix or buttons" and both have a lot of pros and cons and aaaaa. does anyone actually use a UV lamp for their buttons and do they actually need vet visits for nail/beak trims? is there a way to let them naturally wear it down instead?

 

[Nabiki]

i am back on my insanity with the "should i get coturnix or buttons" and both have a lot of pros and cons and aaaaa. does anyone actually use a UV lamp for their buttons and do they actually need vet visits for nail/beak trims? is there a way to let them naturally wear it down instead?

I never had a problem with nails or beaks. Well, their nails might grow a bit long, but a pair of nail clippers would take care of that. You can put a brick or something in their pen and they will wear their beaks down on that.

Buttons are entertaining and pretty much purely ornamental. They are far more likely to raise their own chicks than coturnix.

Coturnix are good for eating eggs as well as good to eat.

If you want pets, I'd go for the buttons. If you want eggs and/or meat, go for coturnix.

 

[calicocows]

I never had a problem with nails or beaks. Well, their nails might grow a bit long, but a pair of nail clippers would take care of that. You can put a brick or something in their pen and they will wear their beaks down on that.

Buttons are entertaining and pretty much purely ornamental. They are far more likely to raise their own chicks than coturnix.

Coturnix are good for eating eggs as well as good to eat.

If you want pets, I'd go for the buttons. If you want eggs and/or meat, go for coturnix.

thank you!! definitely the goal is silly little friends to keep me company, so ive been leaning towards buttons the last few days. eggs would be nice but buttons are just so charming!

 

[Nabiki]

thank you!! definitely the goal is silly little friends to keep me company, so ive been leaning towards buttons the last few days. eggs would be nice but buttons are just so charming!

Button eggs are technically edible, but they're awfully hard to crack and you need a LOT of them to do anything with.

When I had buttons, I would often boil their eggs then crush them up shells and all as a treat for my coturnix.

 

[calicocows]

Button eggs are technically edible, but they're awfully hard to crack and you need a LOT of them to do anything with.

When I had buttons, I would often boil their eggs then crush them up shells and all as a treat for my coturnix.

I just had a thought - could I keep a pair of coturnix hens indoors similar to the way I’d keep buttons??

 

[Nabiki]

I just had a thought - could I keep a pair of coturnix hens indoors similar to the way I’d keep buttons??

You can. I had a friend who did it. Lots of dust, but a pair of hens do well together.

 

[ButtonHoarder]

Buttons are very cute. You can eat their eggs, I did, it’s just not very practical as you’d need like 5 of them to be equal to a chicken egg. But the eggs are so tiny and cute!

 

[calicocows]

Buttons are very cute. You can eat their eggs, I did, it’s just not very practical as you’d need like 5 of them to be equal to a chicken egg. But the eggs are so tiny and cute!
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Nooooo stop tempting me! /lh

at this point I think it’s down to a pair of indoor coturnix hens or a pair of buttons of any sex. Are there any particular pros or cons of each, other than the fact that coturnix are significantly easier to source?

 

[ButtonHoarder]

Nooooo stop tempting me! /lh

at this point I think it’s down to a pair of indoor coturnix hens or a pair of buttons of any sex. Are there any particular pros or cons of each, other than the fact that coturnix are significantly easier to source?

I’ve never owned any quail other than buttons so I can’t really say, but egg size I guess. But if they’re mainly pets then it doesn’t really matter.