Button Quail: The buttonquail is a species of small bird. It is unrelated to the quail family of Phasianidae and lives in warm grasslands in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia. Here are some facts about the species: life span, breeding, and phylogeny.
Breeding
Button quail are small family birds and breed well in aviaries with two or more females to each male. In this way, you increase their chances of hatching young. While most birds display territorial behavior, the males of button quail will call and advertise for mates.
To breed these birds, you’ll need to keep their brooder at about 100 degrees Fahrenheit and give them a diet rich in protein for gamebirds. You should also make sure their water dish is disinfected with a diluted bleach solution. In addition, don’t place more than one male in the same cage. Pairing males with two or three females will produce more eggs and more live chicks.
Button quail are known for their high levels of activity, and they need room to exercise. When they’re young, they seem to spend hours exploring. Their cages should be large enough to provide enough room for them to move around freely and play with toys. They also require an area of their own to live where they can burrow and explore.
Button quail are capable of adapting to different temperatures in the household but should not be housed in extremely hot or cold conditions. You should also ensure that they’re isolated from other pets, such as cats and dogs. You should also make sure that the cage you buy has a top that can’t be climbed. This is important because button quail can easily pick up viruses, bacteria, and parasites from other birds, so it’s imperative to provide the best conditions possible.
Phylogeny
Buttonquails are a member of the quail family and can be identified by their unique appearance. Their breastbone has only one deep notch and their eggs are doubly speckled. They feed on seeds and other plant materials and live in open areas. The male buttonquail is more aggressive and forages in groups. Females roost together and preen each other’s head feathers. They have a distinctive call, which consists of eight to eleven booming notes. Males respond with a clucking or trilling call.
The family is made up of several subspecies. However, the small buttonquail, or nominate subspecies, is considered critically endangered. It disappeared from most of its range during the 20th century and is now only found in Morocco. Spain declared the species extinct in 2018 and it is the first bird species to die in Europe since the Great Auk in 1852.
The buttonquail is a medium-sized bird that can reach a length of five to seven inches (15 to 17 centimeters). Both sexes are gray with a red breast and a white tip to the tail. Species of buttonquail live in tropical areas and sparse grasslands. The species is diurnal but is also known to occur in the wild.
Lifespan
The Lifespan of Button Quail varies depending on their environment, diet, and amount of care. These birds can live up to 13 years in captivity with proper husbandry. They weigh between one and two ounces and are slightly smaller than the common quail. Males tend to be smaller than females.
The median lifespan for male buttonquail was 79 months, and the mean was 82 months. They were 1.7 times longer than females. Their maximum lifespans were 156 months. In the current study, 22 birds were used. The 38 birds were used in experimental studies that involved hormonal manipulation and sacrifice. The hand-raised population consisted of four males and six females, while the breeder group consisted of seven males and five females. Eleven of these birds are alive today. During the analysis, three additional males were included to increase the sample size. After this, there were no more birds to be added.
Male button quail are territorial and may become aggressive when grouped with other males. If kept in flocks with other males, they will compete for females. They also tend to join the chicken pecking order, so keep them away from each other unless you are willing to deal with aggressive behavior.
Diet
The diet of button quail is relatively simple. The birds mainly eat shrubs, grasses, and seeds. They are found in grassy highlands, marshy wetlands, and rice paddies. Their nests are located in low shrubs. They are considered to be Least Concern, but their habitat is rapidly disappearing.
The diet of button quail should consist of about 20% protein. The birds should also be given fresh greens, mealworms, and whole seeds. The addition of mealworms can help their digestion and will give them a nice flavor. The birds also need calcium during the egg-laying process, so you can add ground-up oyster shells or cuttlefish mantle to their diet. In addition, they need a suitable grit to aid in digestion.
Because the Button Quail is a ground-dweller, it is important to provide a safe habitat for them. Their small size makes them vulnerable to predators. When scared, they may take to the wings. While they can fly short distances, they will not be able to escape the premises.
The quail-plover has been classified in the same subfamily as buttonquails. However, DNA analysis shows that it belongs to a different family: Pedionomid. They are closely related to the seed snipes of South America. They are distributed in many islands, including those of the Melanesia Sea.
Care
To properly care for button quail, you must provide them with a proper habitat. The habitat should be a long, rectangular cage with at least eight cubic feet of space. It should be lined with wood shavings that are sold as hamster bedding. The enclosure should also be big enough for the bird to fly short distances.
Care for your button quail should include keeping them healthy. They should be alert and active. You can check on them to see if they are eating and drinking regularly. You should also check their eyes and care to make sure that they are dry and clean. Also, make sure their feathers are smooth and trimmed.
Care of button quail requires a moderate amount of time and effort. They are relatively noisy, and may be a nuisance to your neighbors, but they are generally easy to care for as adults. Unlike many other birds, they can be kept in small spaces. The best way to maintain a stable flock is to house several hens with one male. This way, you will not endanger a single hen.
Button quail should be provided with food that is high in protein. They should also be provided with live food. You can find live food at your local pet store. However, it is important to keep in mind that mealworms are high in fat, so you should avoid feeding your bird more than five mealworms per day. Other sources of protein include hard-boiled eggs and algae.
Colors
Button Quail comes in an impressive range of colors. While the wild type has a predominantly blue body and white bib, some of its populations have black and rust-brown accents. While they are an omnivore, button quail do not only eat bugs but also eat fruits, seeds, and other items. The colors vary depending on their breeding status. You can learn more about button quail’s appearance by reading the following descriptions.
Button quail can be kept in aquariums and cages. They like to have a floor space, where they can perch, and a consistent food and water supply. Their habitat should be clean and rodent-proof. You should also make sure their habitat is at a consistent temperature.
The Button Quail has a range of habitats, from marshy wetlands to grassy highlands. They nest in low shrubs and other areas of low vegetation. Although their habitat is threatened by habitat destruction, the native strains remain a relatively stable population. They also thrive in tropical regions and are found throughout Australia.
Button quail need a high protein diet in order to thrive. They can be fed gamebird crumble, which contains over 20% protein. Fresh greens and vegetation are also an important part of their diet. Live food, such as mealworms, is also recommended. However, be aware that mealworms are high in fat and should not be fed more than 5 per day. Other protein sources include cooked beans and algae.
Nest box
A button quail’s nest box should provide the bird with a safe and protected place to nest. The bird is a shy creature, so it will need some hiding places to avoid being discovered. A wooden crate with multiple doors or a cardboard cylinder will work well. You can also place real plants inside, but they must be safe for birds. If you don’t want to use real plants, you can use plastic or silk plants, which are easy to clean.
However, if you are raising more than two female quails, a nesting box will be useful. A single nesting box will provide the birds with a comfortable nesting area, but if you are raising a large flock, you should consider getting several boxes. Even though domestic quail can lay eggs without a nesting box, they will often do so in the open, such as near their feeding area. Using a nesting box will keep their eggs safe, as well as minimize the number of broken quail eggs.
The male button quail can be aggressive towards other birds, particularly when it comes to defending its territory. He can try to chase a female, so keep him or her in a separate location. Besides being aggressive towards humans, button quail are low-maintenance pets, but you must provide good food and a comfortable home.
