Why quail.

[ConchRepublic]

I've been thinking about getting some button quail, simply because they look cute and would make a good set up for one of my terrariums.

But I was wondering, why do people get quail? I know they are good eating but the smaller birds like buttons don't have enough for even a chicken nugget. Are the eggs any good? Or is it like peafowl and similar birds... get them just to have them?

 

[UmbraVulpis]

Seems to be popular opinion that while buttons and their eggs are edible they aren't worth the hassle and are kept as pets.

 

[_Randall_]

You're gonna see a bunch of answers on this one, but for me, it's Bobwhites only.........and it's a wonderful past-time, and moreso than anything, it's for some of the best eating a person can consume! That's just me, tho...........

 

[darkfur]

Some people keep buttons because they have an aviary and the buttons use the spilled seed, so it doesn't really cost any extra if you keep them with messy birds like canaries. Some people just find them cute. If you want a more "useful" bird, go with coturnix.

 

[Friend2Fowl]

Quote:
I agree totally. I have them just for pets, but am thinking of thinning my flock a bit. When I first got mine, they were very popular. Now I don't even bother listing their eggs for sale, no one wants them. But they are pretty, and I love their sounds. But my coturnix are the bread-winners around here