Okay, why are these quail so TERRIFIED?!

[Quailer]

As you all know, I have button quail. We moved them to a 55 gallon today because they seemed to be outgrowing the 20 gallon. It is really wierd though, they just stay huddled in a corner...maybe they are scared?  Also, they are completely terrified of me now (since yesterday which was before the "new home move".   They used to be only moderately scared of me, but in the last 2 days they have decided that I am dangerous or something...*sigh*.  Simply walking by or putting food or water in their tank sends them into a frenzy.  They run into things, and try to fly (can't quite yet though).  Is there anything I can do to help them calm down and not be so scared?  Thanks guys ;)

[CharlieHorse]

I'm not familiar with the behavioral characteristics of button quail.  Although, Bobs are terrified of you from day one, and they never get any better, which is the way I want them to be. You have just enlarged and changed their surroundings, plus, the move would have stressed them somewhat. Practically any animal will get stressed during a move, goats, pigs, cows, etc. until they get settled in. Do you still have adequate heat on them for their age, since you increased the area that requires heating?  They'll probably return to normal.........although they are quail!!!

[aKirA]

Yea...Quails in general are wild. First 3 days or so after hatch they are in their baby stage. During this time, they will look to you as momy and are not afriad. After....their natural instincts kicks in. They will be skittish and flighty. Cant fix it. It's in their nature.

[CharlieHorse]

Yea...Quails in general are wild. First 3 days or so after hatch they are in their baby stage. During this time, they will look to you as momy and are not afriad. After....their natural instincts kicks in. They will be skittish and flighty. Cant fix it It's in their nature.

Exactly!  I didn't want to say it, as far as I knew they (button quail) may be like chickens.   I was afraid that "huddled in a corner" may translate to  "freezing".

[Quailer]

Thanks guys!  No, they are not freezing.  Under the lamp it runs about 90ish, and on the far sides its about 85, so they are good.  They are over a week old now.  I added some fake plants to the tank, and they are fanning out a bit now :).  Also I saw a couple fly about 2 inches off the ground.  Fun stuff :)  Thank you guys again!  Hi, i'm quailer, and I am a quail forum addict.... its the first step :) :)

[monkeylingo]

BW can make great pets.  Ours love to be petted and fall asleep in our hands.  Here they are on their 1 year hatchday

[smallfarmTN.]

As you all know, I have button quail. We moved them to a 55 gallon today because they seemed to be outgrowing the 20 gallon. It is really wierd though, they just stay huddled in a corner...maybe they are scared?  Also, they are completely terrified of me now (since yesterday which was before the "new home move".   They used to be only moderately scared of me, but in the last 2 days they have decided that I am dangerous or something...*sigh*.  Simply walking by or putting food or water in their tank sends them into a frenzy.  They run into things, and try to fly (can't quite yet though).  Is there anything I can do to help them calm down and not be so scared?  Thanks guys ;)

Quailer, I hear you on that! I have 4 Coturnix chicks that hatched from my very first clutch, (4 out of 5). They liked me for a while, but, now at 2 weeks, when I walk into the room, they act like a T- Rex just came in!
Yet, the full grown birds outside (5) go crazy when they see me coming with a handful of Mealworms and actually sit right in the palm of my hand to eat them, they are more tame than my African Grey Parrot that was hand fed from a chick...go figure.

[Reeves]

Last Active: September 28, 2008, 10:30:26 AM

[CharlieHorse]

BW can make great pets.  Ours love to be petted and fall asleep in our hands.  Here they are on their 1 year hatchday

 

That's just too much!!!     

[slider]

Holy Sh6t..Now I have seen everything. I sure am glad I did not die before I saw that picture...

[Jessibell]

LOL that bobwhite pic is amazing. i too had a handraised bobwhite and he was just like a dog except more demanding. More like a parrot, actually.

I raised buttons for a while but I didn't like them because they were so fearful. I tried handraising them alone, in groups, in small pens, big pens, loud pens, quiet pens, and no matter what I did they were still absolutely terrified of me. Even my bobwhites were flightly but the buttons were just insane. My coturnix were the tamest, they avoided my hand in the cage most of the time but never freaked out.