Not everyone has a backyard, but the desire to keep birds is universal. Enter the Button Quail (Excalfactoria chinensis), also known as the King Quail or Chinese Painted Quail. Weighing in at just 1.5 ounces—the size of a large sparrow—these birds are the perfect avian companions for apartment dwellers. Quailz.com offers Button Quail hatching eggs and specialized supplies to help you bring nature indoors.

Button Quail vs. Coturnix: Knowing the Difference

It is crucial to distinguish Button Quail from the Coturnix sold for meat/eggs.

• Taxonomy: They are a completely different genus. They cannot interbreed with Coturnix.

• Temperament: Buttons are generally monogamous or prefer living in pairs/trios, whereas Coturnix are polygamous flock birds. Buttons are highly active, ground-dwelling scavengers that are mesmerizing to watch.

• Use Case: While they do lay edible, marble-sized eggs, they are primarily ornamental pets. They are the "finches of the ground," perfect for cleaning up spilled seed in the bottom of an aviary or living in a bioactive vivarium.

Housing the Micro-Flock

Because they do not perch, Button Quail need floor space. A 20-gallon long aquarium or a specialized indoor cage is ideal.

• Substrate: Use bioactive soil, coconut coir, or aspen shavings. Never use wire floors, as their tiny feet are prone to bumblefoot.

• The "Boing" Factor: Button Quail have a powerful startled reflex where they fly straight up. Enclosures must have soft mesh tops or be low enough that the bird cannot generate enough speed to hurt itself.

Hatching the "Bumblebees"

Hatching Button Quail is an exercise in delicacy.

• Size: The chicks are the size of a bumblebee upon hatching. They can squeeze through standard 1/2 inch hardware cloth. You must use 1/4 inch mesh or solid walls for their brooder.

• Water Safety: They can drown in a bottle cap. Use a shallow jar lid filled with marbles for water so they can sip without falling in.

• Incubation: They hatch quickly—usually in 16 days.

If you want the joy of poultry keeping without the farm, Button Quail are the answer. They are quiet (the males have a soft, pleasant crow), clean, and utterly charming.