Aussie Finch Forum

Just wondering what peoples views are on house quail with finches? (the various types of Button quail, in particular)
I've read that the quail can interfere with the finches breeding/kill newly fledged finches.

I also heard that quail take flight at night, which if its true could disturb your finches.

I have had Brown/Swamp Quails in a small aviary once and attacked fledging finches In smaller aviaries.The bigger Quail like Californian,Bobwhite are disruptive I found as always looked for highest point In aviary to roost In and get spooked easily.I have never had oppurunity to keep Button Quails as there not here and only quail I find I can keep In the smaller aviaries are King Quail.

I kept and bred a few BBBQ, the only thing is they dominate the live food so be mindful of housing them with finches that have large live food needs to raise young.

Never experienced any aggression towards young.

I have only kept king quail.

I think quail are a pain u unless you keep them in a large aviary.

They foul up the floor quicker than any bird I have ever kept. In saying that I kept them in a small aviary.

Mine didnt make much noise at night and they sat on young painteds that fledged a little to underdone which was nice.

Not sure about the other species but good luck!

I agree with Spitfire and Finches 247,very disruptive on moonlight nights by trying to fly and their constant calling at night can attract cats. Craig

Hmm, might take them off the list, for now...Use the money to get some different finches?

Little Button Quail caused no problems, never attacked young birds, and they never called more than booming. Perfect birds

I've always kept king quail and never had an issue. In fact I have a single zebra finch just fledged and the only reason its still alive with our cold snap has been the king quail sitting with it at night.

Can't comment on the larger Button quail species, but I have kept the Little button quail for several years now. I have never found any problem keeping them with finches and neophema parrots. Provided that the aviary is spacious enough and the quail have enough ground cover in the form of grass clumps, brush and living plants(I have Guinea grass & Cyperus) they are generally pretty docile inhabitants. The problem comes when they are housed in smaller aviaries with little cover, then they become roof-hitting missiles! I think that the interference you refer to would be more likely with the larger quail species such as Japanese, Bob white, larger Turnix species etc.