Aussie Finch Forum

Along with king, Brown and stubble, little button quail and painted button quail are on the exempt list for licencing in NSW.

Thanks, Iaos; didn't think to check the exempt list!

So my next question is does anyone know where I could get some?

Healesville had a large number when I was there. I don't know what the protocol is for selling surplus stock etc from wildlife parks, but worthy of keeping in mind perhaps.

Jayburd wrote:Healesville had a large number when I was there. I don't know what the protocol is for selling surplus stock etc from wildlife parks, but worthy of keeping in mind perhaps.

Surplus stocks are offered to other zoological institutions first, then if there has been no interest after a period of time, to accredited private aviculturists. I'm not clear on what is involved in being accredited, but i beleive it is not easy.
I have heard it rumored that some accredited private aviculturists tend to get whatever they can and then on-sell the stock. Assuming that's true, I can understand how some people would consider that profiteering, as the zoos don't make any money on the transaction. (apparently they can't sell surplus stock or something) But on the other hand, this does get the birds out to aviculturists who otherwise would not have access to them, so I guess in some ways the means justifies the ends.

thanks MH
I remember hearing something about that from my boss a while back, actually... Something called ARAZPA or something?

Yep. ARAZPA is the Australasian Region Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria.
http://www.zooaquarium.org.au/

I'm not sure if ARAZPA membership is strictly required in order to get surplus stock from all institutions. Some may have their own criteria for assessing private aviculturists. I really don't know...

Ah ok thanks!

The current application form for eligibility for trade with Zoos Victoria is about 18 pages long and it's very difficult to meet the criteria. There are however no painted quail on healesville's most recent surplus list anyway.

I have found the Little Buttons to be very easy to breed with out any great amount of livefood, to the extent that I removed the males as they were constantly breeding and got to the point of being over run with them.
I have only had the Red Chested for the one breeding season (1 hen and 2 males) and found them to be not to much harder to breed than the Littles other than the first couple of days from hatching the young need plenty of livefood or you will lose them.

Could you substitute livefood for green food