New Additions - Chinese Painted Quail

[pterry97]

Hi all,

I unintentionally stumbled across a local advertisement for someone selling two Chinese painted quail, and since quail are almost impossible to find here, I foolishly purchased them with intent on them joining the farm.

Safe to say that won’t be happening now; they’re completely untame and impossible to handle, so they’ll have to stay home with me instead. I have doubts on if I can ever tame these guys as they run just at the sight of me in the room - absolutely nothing like my Coturnix.

Currently they’re sharing space with my Coturnix’s - it’s going well, although Rocky occasionally trumpets at them when they get too close. They seem fine with the rest of my flock however, but will only be temporarily sharing with them until the Coturnix finish growing their head feathers and can finally go live on the farm full time.

As usual I want to know what colour my quail are, this time for the buttons haha. I’m pretty certain that Rusty is a red breasted male:

But I’m not sure what Daisy is (I’m thinking of renaming them Soap, because they’re so slippery and impossible to handle):

I was told that Daisy is a hen, but I’m not so sure because of that bib. I can’t tell on behaviour because whenever I’m in the room they turn into a running mess (I can tell why they were rehomed).

Sorry for the poor quality pics they are near impossible to keep still. Any suggestions? Particularly on Daisy’s colours, sex, and possible taming tips (eating out from my hand seems literally impossible at the point as they won’t eat even the mealworms when I treat my Coturnix)

 

[Hiram Means]

Button Quail are the best!

Don't lack too much confidence.

I thought the same when I got my buttons, but now they come right up and eat out of my hand.

I'd start taming mostly when the coturnix are gone, so that they don't take all the taming stuff, since they're already tame.

Start with just getting them used to your presence.

Once they begin to identify you with food and understand that you are a thing that's there a lot, feeding food out of hand is very helpful.

The best time to do this is taking advantage of when their feeder ran out.

This is a time they are more motivated to get food.

Taming will take a little time and patience though.

You are correct about the male. I'm fairly sure. However it is possible he has golden pearl gene in addition to red breasted gene which would make him a Darth Vader.

Daisy is indeed a female. A cinnamon red-breasted, I believe.

Other quail people that are smarter than me, please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[pterry97]

Button Quail are the best!

Don't lack too much confidence.

I thought the same when I got my buttons, but now they come right up and eat out of my hand.

I'd start taming mostly when the coturnix are gone, so that they don't take all the taming stuff, since they're already tame.

Start with just getting them used to your presence.

Once they begin to identify you with food and understand that you are a thing that's there a lot, feeding food out of hand is very helpful.

The best time to do this is taking advantage of when their feeder ran out.

This is a time they are more motivated to get food.

Taming will take a little time and patience though.

You are correct about the male. I'm fairly sure. However it is possible he has golden pearl gene in addition to red breasted gene which would make him a Darth Vader.

Daisy is indeed a female. A cinnamon red-breasted, I believe.

Other quail people that are smarter than me, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thank you very much! Yes you're right about the Coturnix taking up all the taming as they always rush to the front of the cage for attention and treats, whereas the buttons like to zip constantly around the back of the cage. Every night I cut up worms and mealworms for everyone and mine go into an excited frenzy as I drop pieces across the floor, I keep trying to sprinkle some around the buttons but they run every time something lands near them, and then its left for the Coturnix to hoover up haha. Maybe once they're gone it'll change the atmosphere a bit.

May I ask what part of Rusty looks golden pearl? I'm still completely new to quail and am trying to figure out the signs - it's great people are telling me what they are but I'd like to know how they know so I can know how to identify it in the future haha. A Darth Vader... Maybe I should rename them to (Light)Saber and Soap hahaha

 

[Hiram Means]

Saber and soap! That's so cute!

For some reason, the pearl gene creates a darker face red breasted called a darth vader.

How? I do not know.

Some time you just have to memorize what certain combos look like. It's kind of entertaining though