I need some help... :)

[TheRealTimShady]

I think the rich was mainly for pigeons because at a wedding they were throwing rice in the pigeons would eat so much of it and then go drink water their stomachs would be swell and they would die

I have only seen birds explode if you give them laxative

 

[animal8]

Quote:
Laxative? I've never heard of that. Wonder what would cause that reaction in their bodies. I have heard of birds exploding if you give them bicarbonate of soda, but I don't know if that's actually true; I've never tried it and would never want to, but one of my school teachers admitted to giving it to seagulls

 

[mhwc56]

Quote:
Wait a Minute?? I find that hard to believe "EXPLODING BIRDS"..??? There is a Bird in Southern Asia called "The Java Rice Bird" whos diet is mainly rice!! Look it up!! EXPLODED BIRDS.....COME ON GET REAL ...PLEEEZE>>!!

there's a difference between DRY rice and RAW rice...wild birds eat RAW rice with NO problems but the rice you buy at the grocery store is DRY and it does cause birds that eat a lot of it to have ruptured insides due to swelling.That's why it's been recommended that you don't throw rice at weddings any more...
I'm not talking about wild fresh rice that hasn't been processed.

 

[Frankallen]

Quote:
Wait a Minute?? I find that hard to believe "EXPLODING BIRDS"..??? There is a Bird in Southern Asia called "The Java Rice Bird" whos diet is mainly rice!! Look it up!! EXPLODED BIRDS.....COME ON GET REAL ...PLEEEZE>>!!

there's a difference between DRY rice and RAW rice...wild birds eat RAW rice with NO problems but the rice you buy at the grocery store is DRY and it does cause birds that eat a lot of it to have ruptured insides due to swelling.That's why it's been recommended that you don't throw rice at weddings any more...
I'm not talking about wild fresh rice that hasn't been processed.

Still don't believe it!!! Only Myths!!! Rumors !!

Rice has to ripen and "Harden Up" before it's processed!! Please show me on the Net about Birds Blowing Up!!

:

Please read this and then END OF DISCUSSION!!!!

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/birdrice.asp


Frank

 

[Chinchilla2]

The Petsmart / PetCo cage will be fine. Use a different feeder, even a large jar lid will do the trick for that. With that deep a base on the cage, you may not want to use a standard bird waterer either unless you can make sure they can get their beaks in it good. For the chicks, once again use a jar lid, preferably with marbles to keep button quail chicks from drowning (they really do not swim well at ALL).

As chicks, you have to keep them warm and the cage won't really do the trick there. A box with either shelf liner or a towel on the bottom with a light hanging down works decently as a chick brooder. Do NOT put the water and food directly under the light tho. That can cause the water to heat up and if it gets too warm it can burn their throats or they may not drink it and wind up dying from dehydration.

Gamebird Starter Feed. For button chicks, you HAVE to ground it up some. It normally comes in too big a chunk and they won't be able to swallow it. A cheap coffee grinder works good. The same goes for most all baby quail regardless of breed. Purina is best. Using cooked egg all smashed up and complete with the shell is okay but not as the primary food. It should only be introduced going into the 2nd or 3rd week. The shell will help with the calcium they will need and the egg is protein.

When it comes to grit, you want to get the smallest grit you can. Check at a pet store. Many will carry a grit sized for finches. This works well for buttons. Pullet grit may be small but it's still a bit big for buttons.

Do a search here for quailladyoffortmyers as a poster and read everything she has posted in regards to buttons. Her information is based on solid experience and is one of the most knowledgeable people I have ever seen when it comes to buttons.

The rice thing: birds do not explode from eating rice. However, unless it is raw and unprocessed (meaning still has some husk on it) or fully cooked (where if you were going to eat it, you'd just slop some butter on it and dig in), I really do not recommend it. The reason being that they can fill up on the rice and it does take a bit longer for them to digest the white processed stuff than most other grains. That and it just looks like too big a grain for buttons anyway. Smaller grain like finch seed is better but only as a supplement and only after 2 weeks of age.

 

[Robotponys]

Wow I got a lot of helpful answers

. Thank you guys! Ok the rice I have DOES NOT swell more than a centimeter because it is a variety of wild red rice, not white rice, or even brown rice. didn't' mean to start a debate

. And I do not think there are any Tractor supplies within a reasonable distance of me. I will get the cage eventually, but not yet. Thank you! oh and im using a large syringe for a waterer. Foo Foo (the quail's name lol) is definitely drinking

.

 

[chrishel]

Feed will be supplied from this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j … e#prodTab1 And water through this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j … e#prodTab1

I use what you suggest as the feeder for my water. I've given it to my chicks for since they were 5 days old. I got fed up with them dirtying the jar lid I was using with marbles. I use the larger fountain feeder (also from Petsmart) for feed. The opening in the feeder you want to use is too small for the feed to flow through good enough. Plus 2 birds will eat about that much in one day. (I'm referring to coturnix here, not buttons).

The waterer you list should be fine. I've historically never used a rabbit type waterer. I tried it once, and it leaked, and that was it for me. I know several people here use them successfully. (I realize the problem is probably me...

)

Petsmart might also have quail/dove food which is a mixture of large millet, peas, and other seeds. DON'T buy that. Buy GBS as others have mentioned here.​

 

[Robotponys]

Quote:
I use what you suggest as the feeder for my water. I've given it to my chicks for since they were 5 days old. I got fed up with them dirtying the jar lid I was using with marbles. I use the larger fountain feeder (also from Petsmart) for feed. The opening in the feeder you want to use is too small for the feed to flow through good enough. Plus 2 birds will eat about that much in one day. (I'm referring to coturnix here, not buttons).

The waterer you list should be fine. I've historically never used a rabbit type waterer. I tried it once, and it leaked, and that was it for me. I know several people here use them successfully. (I realize the problem is probably me...

)

Petsmart might also have quail/dove food which is a mixture of large millet, peas, and other seeds. DON'T buy that. Buy GBS as others have mentioned here.

The watering thing I have now is working great so no need for the waterer. Also I'll take a look at the feeder once I have the GBS.

thanks you!

 

[Dingo]

Back when I had pigeons about 1/8 to 1/5 of their food mixture was dry white rice, they loved it. they also got 3 types of dry lentils and dry seeds, they never exploded, actually they were beautiful, very shiney healthy feathers.
The only myth I've ever heard of birds exploding was with alka seltzer due to the fizzing. The supposed cause was that birds can't burp to releave the pressure. Thats all fine and dandy execpt for the fact that birds can vomit if necesary, and I've seen budgie chicks release air from their crops.

 

[chrishel]

Sorry, I had to comment, what are birds doing with Alka Seltzer? Headaches and tummy aches from over-indulging on the rice at weddings?

I need to find some Pop Rocks and Pepsi.