Tell me about Caiques

[Pomlover2586]

Hubby and I found an amazingly sweet white bellied Caique that is a 2 yr old male. We really liked him but want to research the species more. What can you guys tell me about their needs and dispositions as a species. Thanks!

[brfussne]

My little Black Headed Caique female is 1 year old and very sweet when "she wants to be." She can be very cuddly. She can't talk that well, she tries, but it's very hard to understand. She does whistle and can make the cutest kissing noises! She is VERY independent and does what she wants, when she wants & will let you know. She doesn't like to necessarily be held, so if you're looking for a "cuddly" bird, keep looking. She loves to "surf" and nibbling on my fingers. (surfing is when a Caique rubs it's face/checks on an object or person vigorously) She is a quick learner and has learned to wave in a matter of minutes. She is also VERY loud so if noise is an issue I would also bypass the Caique. I live in an apartment and have not had any noise complaints yet (knock on wood) and I have had her for a little more than 2 weeks. I'd say on a noise level from 1-10, 1 being a Parakeet and 10 a Macaw or Cockatoo, she'd easily be a 5 or 6. Her scream hurts my ears if I'm in the same room as her, let alone her on my shoulder. She is also very nippy and can easily draw blood. View this thread for some pictures of the nasty bites she has given me. viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7576&p=51660&hilit=caique+bite#p51660 Caiques are also known to have a Jekyll/Hyde personality, meaning one minute they can be as sweet as can be, and the next, they are peeved beyond disbelief screaming and biting anything they can get their beaks on. My Caique has not reached sexual maturity yet, which usually occurs at 2 years, so I can't comment on her behavior or actions from that point of view. Caiques have a lot of energy so be prepared to buy the largest cage you can afford WITH the appropriate bar spacing at 5/8" and many destructible toys. To sum it all up, Caiques are a small bird with a VERY BIG personality. They are very hyper, loud, bossy, cute, smart, funny, and curious.

Peruse this forum for more information:
http://www.caiqueforum.com/forum.php

Check out all the information this breeder shares about Caiques under the Caique tab:
http://shadypines.com/

[Pomlover2586]

The little guy we met was amazing. Within 30 seconds of petting him through the cage he was rolling on his back and letting us pet his tummy, under his wings etc. Neither my husband or I have ever met such a loving bird when he didn't know you. What's even more surprising is this bird has been in a cage for about a year in this bird shop and he is still like this! Even out of the cage he was super affectionate, and not once did he try to bite. He did do the beak surfing on our hand- but it was not aggressively done. I very much want to purchase the guy....but he is priced at the top of our budget and hubby is not sure we should rush things. Hence why I am researching tonight LOL

I am having a hard time deciding on X species......I know what i want out of a bird- but no species seems to meet all of those criteria. I like GCC but they are rather on the smaller scale......Hubby does not want something larger like a Grey....so the Caique seemed a good compromise....especially considering his temperament.

[cml]

I love the looks of the caique, and I think they seem to be very nice birds, if you got the patience and humor for their energetic temperament =)!

I can sympathize with you falling in love with a bird when meeting it in real life, rather than reading about different species, regardless on how much you research. We went to LOOK at Meyer's at a breeder, and fell in love with amazons, and our little Stitch specifically. A week later the breeder delivered him home to us .

With Leroy, we did alot more thinking about what kind of bird would work together with our white fronted amazon, and in the end the choice fell on a pionus. I really urge you to look into those (they are the same size as a caique), I see that you have "deserted" your other thread and havnt replied there for a while, but its full of good advice!

In the end though, its you who are going to live with the bird for, hopefully, the rest of its life! Make a choice you are comfortable with, think you can cope with and that you will love!

Good luck on choosing, be sure to think it through thouroughly =)!

[brfussne]

The little guy we met was amazing. Within 30 seconds of petting him through the cage he was rolling on his back and letting us pet his tummy, under his wings etc. Neither my husband or I have ever met such a loving bird when he didn't know you. What's even more surprising is this bird has been in a cage for about a year in this bird shop and he is still like this! Even out of the cage he was super affectionate, and not once did he try to bite. He did do the beak surfing on our hand- but it was not aggressively done. I very much want to purchase the guy....but he is priced at the top of our budget and hubby is not sure we should rush things. Hence why I am researching tonight LOL

I am having a hard time deciding on X species......I know what i want out of a bird- but no species seems to meet all of those criteria. I like GCC but they are rather on the smaller scale......Hubby does not want something larger like a Grey....so the Caique seemed a good compromise....especially considering his temperament.

You seem to be in the similar situation I was in. I had a deposit on a Congo African Grey from a breeder so I decided to visit my local parrot store to play with the Greys so I could prepare myself for when my little baby got home. I had done a lot of research but never played with a Grey in real life. I ended up visiting the parrot store every weekend for 3 months and decided I was intimidated by the larger parrots, including Greys. I began looking at the smaller parrots and fell in love with my little Black Headed Caique. She was very energetic at the parrot store and very friendly. They don't act like they do at the parrot store when you take them home. They change. Now my BHC is very independent and doesn't like to be touched much. It makes me kinda sad. I really fell in love with how cuddly she was at the parrot store. I hope she goes back to being that way. Just a little heads up for you. If you buy the Caique, it may change it's personality when it comes home with you. My Caique was also way over priced at the parrot store. She was priced at $999.00 but the owner sold her to me for $950.00. If you were to buy a Black Headed Caique from a breeder, it would be around $700.00. White Bellies are more expensive because they're harder to come by.

[Pomlover2586]

Yes we have been going to our local bird stores and playing with multiple species trying to get a feel for each kind. So far we have explored Caiques, Senegals, Meyers, Greys, Conures- Jenday Sun and GCC, as well as Amazons.

It is very hard to choose because if the species is supposed to act a certain way a single individual may not. I am hoping if we purchase the Caique he will remain loving and friendly. We are looking at the Mink brown cage at Petco- the one reviewed on the housing boards.

We're going to go back this afternoon and really sit and focus on just the Caique- yesterday we hopped back and forth from him to several other birds. I want more one on one time with him before I truly consider comitting. Any bird we buy will be a family member and I cannot imagine rehoming any pet of mine- therefore we need to make sure the bird we choose is the right one for us.

[brfussne]

Yes we have been going to our local bird stores and playing with multiple species trying to get a feel for each kind. So far we have explored Caiques, Senegals, Meyers, Greys, Conures- Jenday Sun and GCC, as well as Amazons.

It is very hard to choose because if the species is supposed to act a certain way a single individual may not. I am hoping if we purchase the Caique he will remain loving and friendly. We are looking at the Mink brown cage at Petco- the one reviewed on the housing boards.

We're going to go back this afternoon and really sit and focus on just the Caique- yesterday we hopped back and forth from him to several other birds. I want more one on one time with him before I truly consider comitting. Any bird we buy will be a family member and I cannot imagine rehoming any pet of mine- therefore we need to make sure the bird we choose is the right one for us.

Many, if not all of the Poicephalus parrots are very good choices, as well as Lovebirds, Cockatiels, Parakeets, Parrotlets. I'm also a big fan of the Lorikeets. You many want to look into Quaker parrots, depending on if they are legal in your state. Here in Cali, they are illegal. Indian Ringnecks may be a good choice as well.

[Pomlover2586]

Well we went back and spent 2 hours with the WB Caique. He's such a doll......and his name is Iago- from Aladdin! Yup we bought him! We're going to set up his cage this week and hopefully he'll come home next weekend or the following at the latest! Here's a pic! He'll be 2 years old June 12th.

[brfussne]

Well we went back and spent 2 hours with the WB Caique. He's such a doll......and his name is Iago- from Aladdin! Yup we bought him! We're going to set up his cage this week and hopefully he'll come home next weekend or the following at the latest! Here's a pic! He'll be 2 years old June 12th.

I just saw this post lol! But another congrats is in order! Iago is a doll! I just love the way Caiques look! I plan on buying a White Belly in a few years to be Kismet's pal, if I can tame her!

[Pomlover2586]

Thanks! I'm so excited!