My beautiful male button passed 2 days ago, leaving his lovely lady all alone. she keeps calling out for him and its heartbreaking to listen to. Can a quail live happily alone? She is quite old, and doesn't lay anymore, so I think she could be difficult to rehome. However if I did find a loving home to take care of her, would she settle with other quail? I have never had to introduce quail before, so I don't know how they respond to newcomers. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks xx
I've read that buttons tend to die when kept alone, if they are not tame and bonded to their owner. Having lived with just her mate for a long time, I don't think she should be introduced to a group, but if this new loving home has a roo (perhaps a hen would work too - I have two hens living together but they are sisters and have been together since hatching), that can be kept alone with her, that would probably be the best option. Introductions should happen in a cage that is new to both of them and has many hiding places. Perhaps they should be kept side by side for a few days before the actual introduction, so they get a little used to seing each other.
You can place her with another single button. When you place a single in with a pair it gets tricky. Either way I'd definetely be cautious and keep an eye out for the first hours of putting them together. Buttons are big on the pecking order and their space. Every experience is different. Good luck!
Thank you so much for your advice, I have just remembered someone with a lonely quail of their own, so I will ask them whether or not they would like company for him\her. I dont know if theirs is male or female, or how friendly it is with other birds, so i will check that too. It's on a visiting farm so I'm sure I'd be able to visit her often if she did move in there DK newbie said that quail tend to die if they are not bonded to their owner, and that's what I'm worried about :\ I have found lots of stories about quail who are happy with just the company of their owner, but she's definitely not happy in my company, as she wasn't raised by hand and hadn't had much human contact. Thanks again for all your advice xx
