Quail egg swap

[redhen]

Hi, recently acquired 7 button quail..i have googled info on them..but i would like some first hand owner information and tips on raising them. I believe they are around 3 weeks old..i'm not sure if i have males or females..(can you tell for me?), I would also like to know the best way to house them...right now i have them in small fish tank..but i have many cages that i could use...do they need to live on wood shavings? are they bottom dwellers all the time?..or could i use a cage and use small perches for them to stand on?..also..i read that they start to lay at 6-8 weeks old?..is this true?..and do they need nests box things? and what should i use for the nest boxes? also..can i keep them all together?..males and females? i would like to hatch one clutch from them(if i have both sexes)..what do i need to do for that?...sorry so long of a post...

..i would appreciate any help..thanks, Wendy

Can you tell if they are male or females?

 

[redhen]

noone can help??..

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

http://chinesepaintedquail.co.uk/

I use this site for research. It could help you and give advicce

 

[FLOWERPOT]

I learned that as soon as you can identify the males from the females you need to seperate the males from each other if females are around. Just like chickens, the males will fight for dominance/breeding rights. Just pair them up or trio them up, and if you have extra boys they can stay together without females and be fine.
They do not need nest boxes, they just lay the tiny eggs wherever they happen to be,
They dwell on the bottom all the time and will not use a perch of any kind, so the fish tank aquarium will be just fine, or any other type of cage you have. But they do jump straight up when startled, so I use netting on the top of the aquarium I have mine in so they dont bump their heads on something hard. (they can knock themselves out, or worse)
I used wood shavings for a while, but now I use newspaper shredded in a paper shredder, kind of thich on the bottom, They seem to like it better, and it is keeping the odor controlled since I can change it often enough.
They are a little flighty but still friendly enough, and so much fun to watch.
So when you start getting fertile eggs, maby we can trade.

 

[redhen]

hi!..thanks for the info guys!..

hypnofrog..i will check out that site..thanks.

and flowerpot..sure!..i'd love to trade some eggs... also, can you tell...(my pics are pretty crummy though), if they are male and female yet?..thanks again, Wendy

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Hey, Dont forget to put me in the trade when my babies grow up. I never sent eggs before so this will be fun! Oh redhen. I have 6 babies now and still waiting for the rest to hatch

 

[FLOWERPOT]

Cant really tell yet, But check out the site frog sent, It tells ya how to tell pretty well.
Most of the boys will get a white bib, or line, on their throats. That is a good way to tell. Sometimes you just cant see it on the white ones. From the pictures it looks like some of them are getting their bibs.
and the girls when they are mature are a bit more rounder in the body than the males and just a little bit bigger.

 

[FLOWERPOT]

I havent mailed eggs yet either, But I have recieved several packages of eggs I purchased from people.
It will be a new experience for us both.
In the spring I will send some to you to test hatch for me.
(My expense)
I just dont think the cold weather would help if I sent them now.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Thank you and I will do the same for you. Please post pics if you do get some to hatch.

 

[FLOWERPOT]

I just put 4 eggs in the incubator yesterday, so I will let you know in about 16 more days.