Questions, quesions, questions????

[SteveP]

Ok so I want some quail, but not just any ole' quail, I want some coturnix but again not just any ole' coturnix but the blues, the really bright blues too. Like this one.

So are they out there??? most of the coturnix that I have seen that are similar in color are exactly that... similar in color,no the deep vivid blues that this bird has. Also what should I expect from these birds... I have done a good deal of research but do not know all of the particulars. I am familiar with quail as far as bobwhites go as I used to raise my on for dog training purposes. But other than that I don't know a whole heck of a lot other that what I have been able to find on the net in the last couple months and then on this site in the last 24 hrs or so.

Steve

 

[Tony K T]

Hi Steve,
That is a button quial,not a coturnix.
In N.H.,Tony,

 

[SteveP]

Despite whatever variety it is... that is what I am looking for. In my research to find out what these bird need for an aviary, food, breeding, all that kind of stuff I have found that they are also hotly debated as to exactly what species, genotype......... bunch of fancy words that really do not mean a whole heck of a lot to me as a guy looking for a specific look in a quail. I am not 100% sure as to exactly what they are called as I have seen so many different things called by 100 different names. My biggest question at the moment is where can I find some and what should I expect to pay for eggs??? juveniles??? and for those of you that have them what have your experiences been with them?? And just as a side not that picture was lifted from the Wiki page for coturnix quail, not that it is a reliable source but that's just where I got it.

Steve

 

[Stellar]

I sell them

It looks like you are looking for the normal blue breasted quail, button quail for short. There are many many color variations, however I pair mine up since they are monogamous. Feel free to check out my website

Unfortunately these guys do not breed true but if you like I can send you some eggs from my wilds and you can incubate them

 

[Stellar]

Oh, and Tony is correct, these are not COturnix, these are Excalfactoria chinesis. With proper diet, your birds can get that vivid brightness

 

[NeoRoey]

That picture you have there seems to be a button quail, as Tony K T said, rather than a coturnix. Compared to button quails, coturnix quails are larger and less "frisky". Although, they aren't the prettiest birds. Not even the rarer color patterns make them that good-looking. Button quails are a lot more beautiful and small, but you would never be able to get one to stand still if there's a hand near them. It all depends on what you're looking for. Eggs often run 1 dollar per or more. There is a very nice person who's username is quailladyoffortmyers. She has an awesome website with very cheap eggs and sells already hatched chicks too. [/kissup] But really, you should check out her website . You can get some good deals there. I'm not sure of the juvenile price, it was something like 100 assorted for $30 at Strombergs, but adults can run you as cheap as $20 for a pair.

 

[SteveP]

So Miss Quail Lady.... do tell, do you have any in this color??? I am going to post this and look over your website, also you said with proper diet, what is "THE" proper diet to achieve these beautiful rich colors?? Thanks so much for the info and as to what I should call them.

Quick edit..... Very nice site you havee there Quail Lady, very nice.

Steve

 

[Stellar]

If you feed them Gamebird crumbles unmedicated with added oyster shells (ground) for added calcium they should get that bright along with lighting. Mealworms given once a week help too. Here is a male I donated to a Butterfly Conservatory a month ago. The second shows the male with his mate.

 

[SteveP]

Very nice looking pair there. The biggest reason I ask is that I want to make sure and get it 100% the first time, you know cut out a bit of the learning curve and the questions that I would ask three months after I hatch them as to why they look so dull??? what am I doing wrong??? then i get the shocker that I need to change my feed... it gets more expensive... so on and so forth. I really appreciate all the info. I am sending you a PM.

Steve

 

[shelleyd2008]

Personally I think that picture is misleading. I have some (quaillady can attest to this) that, in pictures, look very blue like that, but I'll tell you they don't look near that blue in real life.
If you are looking for these just to have something to look at, then your right on. But these guys get about as big as your thumb, so they aren't good for much of anything else.

I know some people that do have a pair or two of some colors that do breed true, but most of them do not. I usually get at least 1 white chick from my birds' eggs and have no white birds in my flock.