Button quail thread!!

[TeresaW]

And here I thought button quail were gentle!

I thought they were too, until I found a live cricket and put it in one of cages. They fought over it pretty viciously until it was torn to shreds and eaten.

 

[Nabiki]

Where did you get that cage, and how many does it house? I recently had to move while mine were still in brooders. They are 30”x 16” x 16”, and only 2-3 for each…except for the “baby box.” My one “couple”have been busy… 40 fertile eggs, and I hatched 8.

They definitely need more room, but not including the babies, I have 4 males, and just one hen. For a while, they all lived harmoniously. Then I guess puberty came along, and “Sonic” and “Leo” were pecking at each other and literally tumbling around on the ground. They’re now separated. My “bachelor” box was fine, but now “Bruno” hates everyone. He “scalps” the other two…not to the point of bleeding, but there are no feathers on their heads. I’ve seen Bruno BODY SLAM Sonic, latch onto his neck and couldn’t get him to let go! They have hiding spots…an upturned shoebox with holes cut throughout as escape routes. They spend most of the day peeking through the slats trying to get a view of Speckles’ voluptuous breasts, so maybe the boxes are just too close…? The two male non-offenders are very anxious and pace a lot. If I could cull, it’d probably be best…but I just can’t do it. I guess setting him “free” in a pasture would be more cruel with predators and all. Will a vet be willing to put him down so that he just goes to “sleep,” or would I be laughed at. It’s a shame…he’s my prettiest button…blue faced, with the pretty bib. I’d never breed him, though because he’s just too aggressive. Thought of putting him alone in his own cage, but that seems mean for a social bird too.

And here I thought button quail were gentle!

The cage is a custom build. You can see the video here.

I have 10 buttons in there with dirt flooring, branches, and wicker style baskets for hiding places. They are a bit crowded with 10 square feet for 10 birds, but they are getting along well.

 

[bantamsrmyfav]

I heard the males need to be where they cannot hear or see females so they don't have anything to fight over.

My extra males will be going in the shed with a heater while the paired buttons will be in the basement. I have 3 pairs 5 weeks old, an adult trio, and a trio that is 3 weeks old. I only know that the golden pearl 3 week old is a male, the silver and the red breasted 3 week olds still need to see if they are males so I can pair a male with the blue faced cinnamon female adult, leaving two currently unsexed chicks.