Some button quail questions.

[lightchick]

Here are some of my questions.
Can you keep button quail outside?
What temps can they survive in?
Are they really good pets?
Can someone post pics of the chicks on their hand to show how small they are? How much do they cost?
How much room do they need?
Where can you get them?
How much do they eat?
What kind of feed do they need?
Is it possible to only have one?
Hopefully someone can answer all of my questions.

 

[dc3085]

Here are some of my questions.
Can you keep button quail outside?
yes but they do best between 60-90* F
What temps can they survive in?
40-100*
Are they really good pets?
No. They are nervous bird with many of their wild instincts intact. You will always be the food monster they will only ever tolerate you.
Can someone post pics of the chicks on their hand to show how small they are?

I don't have chick pics but here is a comparison for adults. A button chick is about the size of a nickle with one inch legs on it, they are about half the size of a zebra finch.

Adult male button


Adult female coturnix


How much do they cost?
About $30-40 per six months for feed. If you use litter double the cost.
How much room do they need?
4 sq feet per pair or more, more is better with any gamebird.
Where can you get them?
Best bet is to order eggs and hatch them, otherwise you'll have to keep an eye on craigslist. They mate for life and should be kept in pairs, so pet stores avoid them since they take up too much space.
How much do they eat?
A 50lb bag of food will last for a few months if you have waste free feeders. Each bag is around $20.
What kind of feed do they need?
28-30% protein gamebird food.
Is it possible to only have one?
They mate for life and are sensitive birds, if you keep only one it will be lonely and they are known to die from loneliness.

Hopefully someone can answer all of my questions.