Buttons and Kings

[Jayburd]

Hi,
I was wondering... I've been under the assumption that my button quail won't breed unless I sell or get rid of my kings? I wanted to know if that was in fact true.
I would happily try and get rid of the kings if it's so, but if not then perhaps I should leave them. they have had a very good calming effect on the female, but the male is wild as ever and I would like to see if they can get through his thickened skull as well.
Thanks!

[Danny]

Are they housed together?? Kings can be a bit disruptive, much like zebs and benagalese in a mixed aviary. Buttons certainly breed better if they are the only quail species in the aviary but there are always exceptions to the rule.

[Jayburd]

Thanks Danny
yes they are currently together. no problems yet, they all feed together, but also not mating or displaying cross species
Well, I guess I'll get rid of them then...
any ideas for suitable nesting sites? put a whole heap of straw on the dry shelter floor and the male burrowed, and the pair started spending time together (which I hear is a sign of impending nesting?) but nothing happened and it got pretty poopy so I had to remove it for hygenic reasons.

[Fincho162]

Agree with Danny there that Kings will dominate your smaller Buttons.

Some are tiny when they hatch and might be regarded as a snack food for Kings - or is that "fast" food!!

Guess u already know it but the males also feed the chicks from day one so it is a great idea to provide maggots (or whatever) on the ground for the male to do so................they don't just peck from day one like Kings.

Also even in some of the Littles u can have problems with the hen killing the chicks in order to get the male to set again - VERY common in Painted quail!!! - so u need to be on the watch when they hatch that the hen isn't up to mischief!!
If they ever appear again try the Red-backs as they are the tamest Buttons of all........mine used to bring the chicks to my hand and feed on maggots in the palm of my hand while sitting in the aviary - absolute stunners!!!

[Jayburd]

Thanks Fincho
My hen button is actually bigger than my kings, and the male the same size. Is that normal? I think I've found a home for my kings now
yes, I've heard about that... I hope my hen is a nicer-than-usual one though
OK, thanks! I billeted with a guy for the Finches '11 convention, he had a red-something BQ, can't remember if it was red backed or red chested....
I made my birds a tunnel out of leftover mouse wire and attached swamp grass to the outside to camouflage it... i put a little inside too hopefully they will nest in it

[Nathan Morleyy]

I agree the king quial were probebly stoping youre little button quail from breeding.

[Jayburd]

found a nest in the back of the shelter today. 3 eggs. I didn't have time to see who was on it (they scrammed) which makes me think it was a BQ... they were pretty spotted, more than the KQ egg I found the other day, but not as spotted as ones I've seen in pictures.
Any thoughts? does the spottiness vary? what should I do?

[VR1Ton]

Every egg will have different markings, I would say that they would be the Littles, once they've laid their clutch keep an eye on the female, if she is continually calling to the cock, get her out.

[Jayburd]

Thanks VR1, I haven't heard her calling at all yet.
I really hope they are the littles but I can't help being sceptical of my analysis I keep hearing this little voice that says "it's a king quail egg and you know it!"
but then again that voice is around a lot... XD

[Jayburd]

well someone has finally agreed to take the kings off my hands
I think they must be BQ eggs, simply because I haven't seen anyone near the nest, but with the kingies I'm sure I would have caught them at it by now.
new egg in the nest too... the mystery deepens