Quail advise

[WildNectarine]

Thank you for your response, they are actually in an aviary so have plenty of space to roam - what you see on those pictures is the c&c cage structure I use for the budgies to perch on, but they have full access into the aviary. I have used construction sand for their dust bath - we had loads left over after putting the patio under the aviary. What I use for the floor are outdoor mats. They are easy to remove and jet wash weekly.!

How wonderful! So nice to see and hear about proper care!

 

[Nabiki]

The second one looks like there's a bib, so probably male. The problem with a lot of the grey ones is that they're not always feather sexable. Does this one ever make a whistling call or growling sound?

 

[Finchbreeder]

As I have been keeping and breeding these Australian king quail (called button quail in the US) in their native habitat for many years, I find they do very well in avairies.
What you have been told above about quail stopping laying when relocated is correct.
Keeping these quail with budgies is not a good idea if you want them to breed.
Budgies will often kill the young - by playing with them.
Agree with Nabiki - while the Dark silver (correct colour term here) is a male, the lighter bird is very hard to be sure of (some of the silver/white mutation hens have light chin markings - but only a cock will have a full bib. Some of this mutations cocks can be completely free of any chestnut to pink colouring on the chest too.
I breed my dark and light silvers seperetely to accentuate these differences. Then grumble like crazy trying to sex the results.

 

[Feather_head]

The second one looks like there's a bib, so probably male. The problem with a lot of the grey ones is that they're not always feather sexable. Does this one ever make a whistling call or growling sousound

I was thinking it looks like it's got a slight bib but I couldn't see any other male indicators (I haven't turned it upside down and pressed the vent area, this may have to be the concluded test) and no not heard this one growl. Seen the grey one do it so know what to listen for. After I got them I did do my research to find as much info as possible about care for them

 

[CuriousCucco]

Hi!
The darker one with a clear bib is a silver male and the other one is a silver(red breasted) female.

 

[Feather_head]

Hi!
The darker one with a clear bib is a silver male and the other one is a silver(red breasted) female.

Thank you! The male did try to get on top of the female this morning but she wasn't having any of it

 

[Feather_head]

As I have been keeping and breeding these Australian king quail (called button quail in the US) in their native habitat for many years, I find they do very well in avairies.
What you have been told above about quail stopping laying when relocated is correct.
Keeping these quail with budgies is not a good idea if you want them to breed.
Budgies will often kill the young - by playing with them.
Agree with Nabiki - while the Dark silver (correct colour term here) is a male, the lighter bird is very hard to be sure of (some of the silver/white mutation hens have light chin markings - but only a cock will have a full bib. Some of this mutations cocks can be completely free of any chestnut to pink colouring on the chest too.
I breed my dark and light silvers seperetely to accentuate these differences. Then grumble like crazy trying to sex the results.

Thank you for the breeding tip! I was thinking of incubating the eggs myself and keeping the chick's under a heat lamp until 6 weeks old and big enough to go into the aviary

 

[Nabiki]

I was thinking it looks like it's got a slight bib but I couldn't see any other male indicators (I haven't turned it upside down and pressed the vent area, this may have to be the concluded test) and no not heard this one growl. Seen the grey one do it so know what to listen for. After I got them I did do my research to find as much info as possible about care for them

Buttons don't produce foam like coturnix do, so pressing won't tell you anything.

 

[Nabiki]

Thank you! The male did try to get on top of the female this morning but she wasn't having any of it

Males will mount another bird regardless of that bird's gender. That is not a clear indicator that the other is a hen.