Raising baby buttons

[Mikhail]

Just in case I ever get baby buttons I wanted to research on how to take care of them. Is it similar to taking care of a baby chick or duckling?

For the heat lamp, how many watts should it be?

I can't keep them in a wire cage, can I? (how small of a bar spacing could they slip out of?) Because you need to use a water bottle or one of those waterers that are used for parrots since the baby buttons could get in a water dish and get wet but those will only work in wire cages because with the water bottles I have the hangers don't work. The water bottle falls and soaks the whole cage, so they will only work in wire cages.

How much protein do baby buttons need in their diet?

Can they eat scratch grains, grit, and insects from day 1 (mixed in with crumbles of course)?

 

[Bettacreek]

I had to modify my bottles. I bought some elastic string from the sewing section at Walmart and used that to loop around the bottom (screw cap thing) of the bottle, then tied the ends to the hanger and used the metal thing supplied with the bottle hanger like it's supposed to be used. Works pretty darned well, wouldn't go without modifying them anymore. However, you don't *have* to use a bottle. When my buttons are itsy babies, I use dishes, without marbles, just make sure that the babies can get back out and don't get soaked if they hop in. Other people will use marbles, but I just haven't found them to be necessary. I only use the crumbles when they're little, then graduate them to a varied diet with oyster shell.

Heat lamp is a 100w bulb in a clamp lamp.

 

[Mikhail]

Thanks.

If its okay to use water dishes I'll just do that, I don't have very good DIY skills.

 

[Bettacreek]

Just make sure it's really shallow.

I have a cookie tin lid in with my brooder. It's maybe 1/8th or 1/4 of an inch tall or something. A bit of a pain in the butt to keep filled, but safe.

 

[citalk2much]

Quote:
I wait until they are older for these about 3 weeks.

Also remember to add calcium

Any questions please feel free to ask