Not sure where to ask this...On Button Quails

[tamaran2]

I need a little help here on button quails and I know other member have them.
I have 3 or the six left from 2 years ago. 2 males and 1 female. The females lays eggs, I just get them out of the aviary and throw them out. Because my Scarlet finds them and eat them. Yes, I know that eggs are good for our birds but not know how long they have been there and such, I don't want him to eat them. Well, some how I missed these 4 and she hatched them. They are 5 days old and so cute...

Here is the problem: One Bam-Bam my scarlet decides ,oh look, moving food and goes for the babies...Just like my bully bam-bam!

The outside has small chicken wire on the outside and chain link on the inside.The bigger quails can't get thru, but the babies have no problem fitting right thru it. And I had to catch them 5 times before I decide this is enough and put them in a smaller bird cage.

Given the 2 situations, I gather up the 4 babies and put them in a small bird cage with the mom, give them food and water and now I'm keeping them seperated from the outside aviary.

How long do I keep the mom with the chicks? The males cry for her 24/7 and she answers back 24/7, even from inside the house
It is driving me NUTS! I want to put her back outside ASAP! Then the babies when they get alittle bigger.

[Joel]

Ya only need to keep the Mom with babies until ya see them eating and drinking - usually a day or two. I keep the babies in an brooder type aquarium (same type I use for nestling Tiels). Put pine shavings on bottom with newspaper under that. Put large heating pad under the whole 10 gal. aquarium and set on high. Put a lid of small pebbles in there with water. The pebbles are a MUST to keep babies from getting all wet which could cause problems. Babies can get just enough water in between the crevices of the pebbles. Change water couple times a day and boil pebbles and lid every few days. Clean out shavings and add fresh about once a week. Give a holler if ya need any more tips. I have raised many of those babies. I assume ya know what to feed?...Be SUPER careful in handling babies as they tend to "squirt" out of your fingers & hands. Easy for them to fall and break/fracture a leg....Good luck - they are sooooo cute....Btw, I would not be letting your other bird(s) eat the eggs for multiple reasons & I would not be throwing away fertile eggs.

If ya choose to keep the Mom with the babies so she can provide the warmth, then do so. Don't worry about the males. Ya could then put Mom back when ya see she is not sitting/covering them with her feathers/wings.

[tamaran2]

Originally Posted by Joel

Ya only need to keep the Mom with babies until ya see them eating and drinking - usually a day or two. I keep the babies in an brooder type aquarium (same type I use for nestling Tiels). Put pine shavings on bottom with newspaper under that. Put large heating pad under the whole 10 gal. aquarium and set on high. Put a lid of small pebbles in there with water. The pebbles are a MUST to keep babies from getting all wet which could cause problems. Babies can get just enough water in between the crevices of the pebbles. Change water couple times a day and boil pebbles and lid every few days. Clean out shavings and add fresh about once a week. Give a holler if ya need any more tips. I have raised many of those babies. I assume ya know what to feed?...Be SUPER careful in handling babies as they tend to "squirt" out of your fingers & hands. Easy for them to fall and break/fracture a leg....Good luck - they are sooooo cute....Btw, I would not be letting your other bird(s) eat the eggs for multiple reasons & I would not be throwing away fertile eggs.

If ya choose to keep the Mom with the babies so she can provide the warmth, then do so. Don't worry about the males. Ya could then put Mom back when ya see she is not sitting/covering them with her feathers/wings.

Ok Joel, call me stupid....What do you feed your babies????
I assumed the mom fed them like our bigger parrots. I got these to get the bugs and things out of the aviary. I know Alot of things on most birds and other animals but I'm lost on these little ones

The reason I have been removing the eggs. 1 (and most important) - So Bam-Bam, my Scarlet, didn't eat them...I knew that couldn't be a good things. And if I miss even just one,he will find it. So I'm not sure how she got these 4past me, But she did!
2 (and the most important thing for them...)(Said in Scarlet O'hara's maids voice ) Mr. Joel, I don't know nothin' 'bout birthing no babies Quails?

All help is NEEDED for their sake, Please

[Joel]

Originally Posted by tamaran2

"Ok Joel, call me stupid...."

Should I or shouldn't I ......

OK "Stupid" (Did you forget I'm incorrigible?)
Of course I am j/k . I am only trying to be polite & follow your request ) ... Didn't think I would let that pass, did ya (I always did get a kick out of Don Rickles).



Seriously though (but just for a minute) - Ya should go to the feed store (some pet shops may carry) and purchase some chick starter crumbles or game bird "starter" they call it....... Ya can also grind up in your blender some birdie pellets and even some bird seed (they will pick out the good parts). Crunch up some unsalted crackers, give spray millet, scrambled eggs or canary type eggfood/insect food will suffice. Can give (when starting to feather) a lil bit of a good quality whole grain bread lightly dampened. Give fresh clean Romaine Lettuce and mash up some mixed veggies also periodically. Boil eggs for 10 minutes, then pulverize shells in your fingers for calcium...Keep everything super clean for their health of course. Put the foods in there while Mom is still in with them so they can learn quickly from her. They DO learn SUPER quick thank goodness.
Feel free to ask anything else anytime but please do follow what I suggest. Please also do not destroy the fertile eggs for any reason.

[tamaran2]

Great, Have been giving them canary/finch food smashed up...So we are good there.

But as for the fertile eggs??????

Joel, You are a breeder, You have the right stuff to hatch them out. But me...I don't, I wouldn't even know where to begin with the eggs.

I would have to somehow hatch them and have a egg turner.

What would you suggest I do with them?

[Joel]

Originally Posted by tamaran2

Great, Have been giving them canary/finch food smashed up...So we are good there.

But as for the fertile eggs??????

Joel, You are a breeder, You have the right stuff to hatch them out. But me...I don't, I wouldn't even know where to begin with the eggs.

I would have to somehow hatch them and have a egg turner.

What would you suggest I do with them?

Tamaran........I didn't just "have" the "right stuff" but went out & bought it & then made the necessary efforts to learn what I needed to in order to breed successfully. Almost anyone (IMO) can do that on a small or large scale.......As with any bird species (IMO), ya should NOT keep a male and female together unless ya are fully prepared for breeding - with equipment and the willingness/time to do whatever needs to be done for success. Otherwise (if ya won't separate the sexes) I suggest to find someone who can take the fertile eggs from ya and hatch them out.... I may be in the minority regarding not destroying potential life that is in a fertile egg but that is just me.

Ya can also find btw, books on Button Quail to help ya out in the future if need be and there is a Button Quail Board on the net that ya can view also for even more assistance (besides asking me). Just Google Button Quail and ya should see the link. Continue though to feel free to ask questions. I do have to shut down in a few minutes so if ya have anything else now, just ask. Good luck to ya & the lil ones.

[tamaran2]

Thanks, Joel.

I guess I never thought the thing thru. DUH!!!!
The guy who we had build the aviary brought them out when he finished it to help with the bottom of the aviary. Well, I never thought all the way thru about the male - female thing. I don't want to be a breeder. I admire what you do and the time it takes and the money involved. I know you and most breeder could do a far better job than I could do.

[Joel]

Originally Posted by tamaran2

Thanks, Joel.

I guess I never thought the thing thru. DUH!!!!
The guy who we had build the aviary brought them out when he finished it to help with the bottom of the aviary. Well, I never thought all the way thru about the male - female thing. I don't want to be a breeder. I admire what you do and the time it takes and the money involved. I know you and most breeder could do a far better job than I could do.

Gotta remember this is not rocket science. Just got to have a positive attitude and determination, plus a bit of enthusiasm doesn't hurt either. Then ya need to have or make the time, be willing to spend some cash & take notes, ask questions & thus learn..... Best of luck - give a shoutout anytime ya need assistance.

[Tiki]

I have no clue about button quails, but I would think you will get more exposure in the Soft-bills forum. Joel found you anyway!

[KrystleLuvsBirdies]

You should keep the chicks with the Mum untill they start to develop their adult feathers, it's too risky to keep them with the others untill then. The chicks can eat and drink just fine on their own as soon as they are born, it's not really necessary to crush things up for them or anything. If you dont know what your doing it's best not to breed them as alot of things can go wrong. The only other problem i can see with keeping the females with the males is if the males are rapeing the female excessively. Are there many feathers on the back of her neck missing? If so you should give her a break from them now and then, it doesnt have to be permanent though.