QUESTION: Button Quail advice Needed!

[BantamBrain]

I am thinking of entering the world of quail with some button quail. I have read CyberQuail's website, but I still have so many questions to ask before I am ready, and would like several people's real-time, experienced input. So, here it goes:


1. How loud are they as room-mates?
2. I have seen them raised in glass aquariums. I can make sliding screen doors in the front, would that be better than reaching in from above while adding ventilation?
3. Can they be as tame as chickens if hand raised from egg?
4. Was wondering if I can take them outdoors in a pen on nice days to get some real sunlight and foraging.
5. Anything important to know for a first time quail owner? I know about the " 'Boink' factor"

I had this 55g tank sitting around so I thought we may put it to use if we can---
I am really looking for a new type of bird that I can keep indoors. My mom won't let me bring my chickens indoors (long story), so I am looking for a smaller, quieter alternative that I can convince her of. We've narrowed it down to a couple small quail or doves, but I would like to do my research before making my decision.

Thanks!

 

[nchls school]

I am thinking of entering the world of quail with some button quail. I have read CyberQuail's website, but I still have so many questions to ask before I am ready, and would like several people's real-time, experienced input. So, here it goes: 

 

1. How loud are they as room-mates? 
2. I have seen them raised in glass aquariums. I can make sliding screen doors in the front, would that be better than reaching in from above while adding ventilation?
3. Can they be as tame as chickens if hand raised from egg?

4. Was wondering if I can take them outdoors in a pen on nice days to get some real sunlight and foraging.
5. Anything important to know for a first time quail owner? I know about the " 'Boink' factor"

I had this 55g tank sitting around so I thought we may put it to use if we can---

I am really looking for a new type of bird that I can keep indoors. My mom won't let me bring my chickens indoors (long story), so I am looking for a smaller, quieter alternative that I can convince her of. We've narrowed it down to a couple small quail or doves, but I would like to do my research before making my decision. 


Thanks!

Button quail can be great pets, but ... if you want a bird to keep in your room I think you might find button quail a bit much. The male's crow can become really irritating when you want quiet.

Moving on to doves. Diamond doves would make a much better pet. Their cooing is pleasant and they do not require a lot of room. They can be tamed to sit on the hand. I have raised both button quail and diamond doves; I encourage you to look into the doves as a pet roommate. Do not get ring neck doves as they are as noisy as the quail; even more so. Diamond doves-check them out.

 

[BantamBrain]

Quote: Are the females noisy as well? Couldn't I just get two females?


Quote: Thank you for the breed suggestion! I did not know that different breeds were noisier than others. I was looking into Diamond Doves but unfortunately there aren't any breeders around here.

 

[dc3085]

I am thinking of entering the world of quail with some button quail. I have read CyberQuail's website, but I still have so many questions to ask before I am ready, and would like several people's real-time, experienced input. So, here it goes:


1. How loud are they as room-mates?
Depends on species, coturnix roosters can be a bit loud but its nothing like an actual rooster or anything. Coturnix hens only ever make any noise when they want something.

You've been told the male buttons crow is irritating, that is untrue. 99% of people haven't ever heard a male button crow. Both males and females can make a noise we call a trill and if they want something, it can be quite annoying. You will not hear it often at all unless you are depriving the birds of something or irritating them. The crow of the male button quail sounds akin to a frog lightly croaking. It's a raspy but very quiet sound, you won't have to worry about it.

2. I have seen them raised in glass aquariums. I can make sliding screen doors in the front, would that be better than reaching in from above while adding ventilation?
Glass aquariums thermo-regulate quite poorly and almost anything makes a better cage for buttons than an aquarium. Also keep in mind if they are startled (which will happen somewhat often if you keep them inside with you) they will fly straight up with enough force to kill or seriously injure themselves. That needs to be taken into account when building them a cage and aquariums are mostly an iffy height for boinking.

3. Can they be as tame as chickens if hand raised from egg?
Coturnix quail can, the rest not so you'd notice.

Buttons do not make good pets. Unless you consider goldfish a good pet, because 99.9% of button quail are less friendly than a goldfish. A very small percentage of buttons imprint on their owners when raised by hand and become good pets, but it is not something you can rely upon happening with any certainty. If it does happen your bird will suffer every day that you don't have time to spend with it directly so keep this in mind. The vast majority of button owners never become any more than the food monster to their birds. Personally I wouldn't waste my time trying to keep buttons as "pets" unless you just want something to look at. They are such high stress birds every single time you interact with them, they get stressed out.

4. Was wondering if I can take them outdoors in a pen on nice days to get some real sunlight and foraging.
Thats fine as long as its safe from predators and the pen is such that you can actually "re-capture" it when you want to take it in. Honestly doing something like that will likely be more stress on the bird than otherwise if it's button quail you're talking about. Coturnix are stupid and even if they don't like you they'll eventually come to you.

5. Anything important to know for a first time quail owner? I know about the " 'Boink' factor"

Quail feces is high ammonia and nitrogen. If you're keeping it inside plan to clean the cage constantly or you'll be sorry.


I had this 55g tank sitting around so I thought we may put it to use if we can---
I am really looking for a new type of bird that I can keep indoors. My mom won't let me bring my chickens indoors (long story), so I am looking for a smaller, quieter alternative that I can convince her of. We've narrowed it down to a couple small quail or doves, but I would like to do my research before making my decision.

Thanks!

 

[nchls school]

Outside or in a room where noise does not matter the crow of a button quail is not irritating, but in a room where quiet is desirable male button quail will be intrusive. I have raised button quail and they are wonderful little birds. However they are not suitable for a room where quiet is needed.

 

[nchls school]

Are the females noisy as well? Couldn't I just get two females?


 
Thank you for the breed suggestion! I did not know that different breeds were noisier than others. I was looking into Diamond Doves but unfortunately there aren't any breeders around here. :/

Females are quieter. The odor difference between coturniix quail and button quail is very different. Button quail do not have the strong odor of coturnix making them much easier to maintain.

Have you considered finches? Diamond doves, quail, and finches are all birds that are not known to be friendly pets unless handled at a very young age, Hand fed finches make a delightful pet, but you'll not find one easily.

 

[BantamBrain]

Quote: Never really been a big fan of fully-flying birds like finches or budgies. As you said nice ones are hard to find, especially in this middle-of-nowhere town where the nearest pet store is over an hour a way (which is petco, btw....won't go there...) They are just too high energy, zippy little buggers for me to handle, which seems to be the typical case with buttons as well...

Quote: Really? That is a shame. I had heard great things about doves. :/

As I was researching today, general consensus was if you want a quail to handle, coturnix is the way to go. I also have a cage I used to use to train chickens for showmanship that might just work. It also has a wire bottom and removable tray that I could clean several times a day. thoughts?

Having cats, dogs, and a college-age brother in the house, it's never really 'quiet' here. Natural noises don't bother me unless I am sleeping and they startle me. I have had pet rats chew on metal bars and run on the wheel all night without a problem.

TLR I am basically looking for a lap-bird, but it seems the only thing that meets the bill is a chicken, which my mom refuses to let in the house. (last time my hen started crowing) Oh well...maybe enough whining will break her

 

[nchls school]

How about a hand fed cockatiel. I my opinion there is no better "lap" bird as a pet. They love being held and petted. They are smart for a bird. Female hand fed cockatiels are about the best pet I can recommend. They are playful, fairly quiet, and enjoy being with their owner. There are two drawbacks to cockatiels. First, they are not for anyone who doesn't want a bird on their shoulder; they need attention on a regular basis. They are not a pet that can be left in their cage. Second, they give off a dander/dust from their bodies and have to be cleaned on a regular basis. The dust will get everywhere so they are not a pet for those that don't want to clean.

If you like chickens look at serama bantams. I have a hen that weighs just 8 ounces. She flies to my shoulder whenever she can. She seems to like being cuddled, My serama rooster is the same way. They are about the size of a pigeon. Show your mom a youtube video showing seramas. My guess is she will change her mind about chickens as pets. They stand at less than a foot; my rooster is 10 inches tall. The hen are even smaller.

 

[BantamBrain]

Oh, I do have pet chickens-two hens and a rooster, all three of them bantam breeds- but she wants them strictly outside because of ONE instance where I brought in an injured hen and she started crowing! I may convince her yet!

I love the idea of a cockateil---I actually would like a pet that I can give attention to all day. In fact, that is the main reason for me looking for an indoor bird! I am currently getting my bachelors degree, and working, online--- so I am home almost all day every day by myself (minus the family pets). The ONLY problem I see is the dander. I have become allergic to my cats and dogs, so I hope that I won't be allergic to cockateil dander too.

Thank you so much for your help, guys!

 

[nchls school]

Oh, I do have pet chickens-two hens and a rooster, all three of them bantam breeds- but she wants them strictly outside because of ONE instance where I brought in an injured hen and she started crowing! I may convince her yet!

I love the idea of a cockateil---I actually would like a pet that I can give attention to all day. In fact, that is the main reason for me looking for an indoor bird! I am currently getting my bachelors degree, and working, online--- so I am home almost all day every day by myself (minus the family pets). The ONLY problem I see is the dander. I have become allergic to my cats and dogs, so I hope that I won't be allergic to cockateil dander too. 


Thank you so much for your help, guys! 

I have had hundreds of different bird species over the years; cockatiels are my favorite bird as a pet. I hope you're not allergic. If you get one, get a hand fed, Others can be tamed, but they never get like a hand fed bird. I had a wonderful hand fed pearly pied hen for 16 years. She went to school every year. The kids loved her. My second favorite is the picture below; a sunday conure---but oh so noisy.

DUFUS