Will my Caique forget me?

[kahawia]

I have had my White bellied Caique for 2 weeks now. She is wonderful, I named her Kiwi. She's cuddly and very intelligent. She loves grapes, TV, and being with me. I've been working with her to teach her tricks, she will poop on command, turn around, make kiss noises when giving her a kiss, and she wolf whistles. I am worried because I visit my Father every year for 2 months in Europe and I am leaving in a month. I cannot take her with me. I will miss her so dearly and I even contemplated not going. I've heard horrible stories of Caiques turning on their owners when they "abandoned them" on vacations. I just want to know will she remember me after I leave? I will be gone longer than the time I had her. She will be with my Mother and Dad. It's worrying me sick. Has anyone else left their bird for this long?

[Michael]

Sorry to break it to ya, but yeah not a great thing so early on. The longest I've left my parrots was a bit over 2 weeks and they do recognize me and get super happy to see me. But before I'd ever left them that long they were already well bonded to me and aware of me. I did leave for a 3 day trip just a week or two after getting my Cape Parrot but the bigger issue there was him getting by on his own with so little experience in his new cage than remembering me since I'd have a chance to continue with him shortly after. He was still eating poorly at that time and I was changing pellets on him. The first day I was gone, the person coming to feed him told me he wasn't eating. But by the end of the second day he got hungry and figured it all out.

So in your case I think the bird will be fine but 2 months is a pretty long time for a bird and especially during the early introduction period. This is not to say that the bird can't learn to like you when you get back, however 2 months of history with its temporary caretakers is likely to outweigh 1 month or less of history with you. Not much you can do about it if you gotta go.

[kahawia]

Aw, really not what I wanted to hear, but I expected this. I wish I could bring her with me do you have any words on air travel w/parrots? Thanks for your reply.

[felix11]

I went through something similar to that when i got Pony.
I had only had her for about 3 weeks, and she liked me, but she wasn't in love. We did a lot of training together. Then I went to New York for one month, and left Pony with my father. When I came back, she definitely remembered me, and remembered all of her tricks I had taught her (even though she hadn't practiced them for a month). She was quite fond of my father, but it only took about a week for her to be completely relaxed and loving to me again.

Obviously she won't be besotted with you when you come back, but it won't take long to build up your relationship again! The most important thing is that she is regularly handled while you are away.

[greymatter]

Our fids are generally a bit peeved when we go away (odd weekend, week vacation every other year). Merlin & Stryder (Grey & tiel) are generally ok within a few hours of us returning.

Rosco, our caique, has his glaring eyes on me when we initially return, so I generally don't handle him the first day or two. Once he realizes I'm not leaving him other than the go to work (normal routine), he goes back to his normal self. He really is the one to deal with change or sudden events the worst out of our trio.

Our Grey and Tiel were acclimated to a lot of changes during their younger years, so anything (i.e. vacation, moving), doesn't really bother them.

We did have the fids at our inlaws for a month while our floors were being redone (that was a fiasco, hence why they stayed a month), and Rosco was peeved to be in a) a smaller cage, and b) that I wasn't there for his normal things - the crazy white haired man was (I love my in laws They REALLY do love our animals). So the nights that we did stay at the in-laws, Rosco and I would hang out in the bathroom while I bathed, and he just walked along the side of the tub quacking happily away eating his grapes. He still didn't enjoy the whole experience, but we dealt with it.

So I'm going to say you may have to go from the ground up with your new Caique when you return. Don't expect any trust to be there on his part, and be patient with him when you return. Lots of food reward will go a long way with him when you do return. Rosco would do ANYTHING for a treat .

[pukeko]

Though this is an older thread, I'd still like to reply. I am currently studying abroad and can't take Suki, my maroon bellied conure, with me as our home country is exit only. She moves her primary bond to my sister while I am away, but recognizes my voice and likely my face too during video chats. We have had some nice little conversations . After six months away, she chose me again when I came home for a month, and I'm hoping she will do the same again after a year!

[pukeko]

Of course, she is very forgiving, well socialized and has been with us for 11 years.