where do i keep button quail??

[shamrockfarms459]

can we keep them inside?? where do we keep them? we are hatching buttons the estimate hatch date is February 5 . thank you for reading or replying!

 

[007Sean]

You can keep them inside, either in a big tote or build a brooder for them. Don't know where you are located but buttons don't do well in temperatures below 40°F. So, if hatching in February, definitely need to be inside.
The brooder needs to be big enough for there to be a warm end and a cooler end. A good bedding material is wood chips, either pine or a hardwood chip, such as Aspen. Fresh, clean water and a complete and balanced feed ration of at least 24% protein is recommended. Good luck with your hatch!

 

[PeaShack]

For the first week keep them in a ventilated brooder box (I used a clearish storage container with holes in the lid and a brooder plate inside). Use a thermometer to keep the temp under the plate 99-100F. I used fine aspen shavings for bedding. They have to be able to have areas that aren’t under the plate too and that is where food and water are kept. Water will need to be a small jar lid with pebbles so they don’t drown. YOU MUST ONLY USE RO OR FILTERED WATER. Button quail chicks are extremely sensitive to copper toxicity and will die even after drinking once from tap water with higher copper content. For the first week or more, grind the gamebird chick feed (higher protein 24–30%) to a coarse powder. Their beaks are sooo tiny!

After the first week I use a mesh large dog crate for their enclosure. They still will need access to the brooder plate. As they grow you can add ramps and hidey spots, fake plants, etc for enrichment.

 

[PeaShack]

I kept my buttons indoors. The dog crate is easy to clean/hose off and dries fast. We have an indoor air purifying system so fine dander was never an issue for us.

 

[Nabiki]

You will want to start them in a brooder. The warm end should be in the high 90s, the cool end can be room temperature.

As they mature, you will want to have a place prepared for them. They are from SE Asia and can't handle very low temperatures, so if you can keep them indoors it's good. Be aware that they do produce a LOT of dust, though.

This is how mine are kept indoors.