Button Quail

Question
Thanks much for the information---do you think its okay to leave the Button by himself...do they get lonely?  I am home a lot and right now his cage is directly beside the couch on the end table--if I get the large aquarium I am hoping to, he will be about 5 ft from the couch---he seems very scared of the pigeon and 'freezes' whenever she flies overhead or sits near his cage....she is a single pigeon and very territorial (I have found)...

p.s. The cutest thing I have seen in a while is how the Button stretches out and lies on his side relaxing in his sandbox... :)  


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Followup To
Question -
Hello Button Quail Expert(s),

I just got a Button quail a few days ago and have him set up in a rectangular double-sized hamster cage (two attached together)...he appears comfortable but I would like to get him a longer aquarium so he has more space.

I have a pigeon and two mini doves and this bird is different from them--he seems lethargic in the a.m. and perks up later in the day and evening--I notice he really likes his sandbox and spends a lot of time lounging in it....

I was wondering how/if it is possible to tame him--he is skittish and very nervous compared to my pigeon who does not have a cage (prefers to be free)...

I also notice he poops a lot so do people keep them in cages most of the time...or do they actually let them out and trust they will return to their cage on their own...my mini doves currently do go back to the cage but there's always cleaning up to do after they are about my condo...the quail seems very fast and I doubt he would willingly return to his cage by choice.

Thanks and Regards
Answer -
Hello, These are some good questions but I am afraid I can only anwser a few of them as I do not have experiance with pigeons, The button quail are more active in the evenings, and like to lay around during the day but should remain quite active otherwise, I have never tamed one.. .thou an attempt I made not too long ago didnt work out as planed(they hated me and refused to get used to me), I reccomend keeping the quail in a large 20 gallon or long fish tank or in the bottom of a large bird cage with yuor doves or pigeon, all these birds are very peaceful and could live together. Birds do poop alot and there is nothing that can be done about it your best bet is that when the birds are out get them a hanging play stand or play perch that goes on top of there cage, that way the droppings will fall into the pan beneith these and is easier to clean. I hope this helps you out somewhat if you have any further questions on buttons or doves please feel free to ask, I will help you the best that I ccan, thanks.

Answer
Hello, He would perfer not to be left alone, they aren't really "people birds" and perfer company of other quail, if he is for sure a he your can gt him one or two hens, the hens rarely sit on the eggs they lay anyway so you will not nessairy end up with twenty quail, most button quial are hatched in an incubater as they seem to loose there nesting instinsts in captivity. If you do opt to get hens for him be sure they are deffinitly hens and not light colored males as two male buttons cannot be housed togerther.