Silly broody button

[Paganbird]

I have a pair of white button quail that seem to have made a nest for the purpose of hatching out some chicks!
The hen has 2 eggs that she starting sitting on Friday nite. The male puts bits of wood chips around her and brings her food.
It's terribly cute.

I've heard that buttons don't often sit on their eggs. What are the chances that this pair might hatch out some chicks?

 

[thatchickenlady]

I find sometimes they will sit on and hatch their own, depends some on the strain and environment you've got. What kind of pen are they in and what are the surroundings like?

 

[Paganbird]

That particular pair is a white pair. They are in a plastic terrarium in my bedroom on a shelf near the SW window. It's relatively secluded & quiet. It's upstairs and away from the kids' rooms and the living area. Their habitat box is filled with pine shavings. The hen dug a hole in the shavings for the eggs. They have access to fresh water & food at all times.

 

[CoopCrazy]

I have a button that is trying to go broody but cant seem to figure it out .. She made a nest, laid all her eggs in the nest,( which is a huge shocker as they are usually on the floor) and now doesnt know what to do .. She'll set for a few hours then be right back up running around again... I think there tiny lil brains make thoughts a lil difficult...

 

[citalk2much]

They are so cute when they are parents. You have to keep an eye on them it seems some buttons can't count and give up to soon. I would have a bator waiting to be safe.

 

[Paganbird]

She is only sitting on 2 eggs... I seriously don't think she could cover any more.
I tried to move the eggs away from the waterer today. She was up eating. I made a little indentation in the shavings at the front of the cage and set the eggs in it - the same as she had done. An hour later... the eggs were back where they started. I guess that she feels safer between the feeder & waterer. Or, maybe it's easier for her to get to the food/water without having to be far from her eggs.
The male has started sitting on the eggs when she gets up. I hope at least one hatches for them!

 

[duckncover]

Good luck

 

[shelleyd2008]

Buttons very often sit their eggs, they just don't sit the full time sometimes. They are the most broody of the 'domestic' quail, so you are in luck! I had one this past summer that went broody. After about 16 or 18 days I gave up on her, took the eggs, and put them in the incubator. 2 days later, the eggs started hatching

So if I'd have left them alone, she would have been a mama. But mine are in group pens, so she wouldn't have been able to keep them anyway. Good luck!!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
The one I had had a total of 22 eggs, all but 4 hatched

 

[Paganbird]

Quote:
LOL!!!
My hen is not that ambitious!!! LOL!!