Caique Problem

[SarahNya]

I've just got a 5 year old YTC who I brought off a breeder who told me that he originally got him for breeding a year ago but he was obviously hand reared and showed no interest in other birds. Therefore he had kept him inside the last year as a pet but decided to re home him as he wasn't getting any attention what with work etc.

Anyway, he has a nice personality and hasn't bit me hard (yet) but he doesn't display the typical "Caique" personality. He isn't playful at all and just likes to sit on your hand. He won't tolerate much physical contact either and politely removes your hand from him if you try and pet him.

More disturbingly I've noticed that his right foot appears to have less grip in it and sometimes he even "trips" over it.

To me it looks like he may have some sort of neurological disorder or perhaps have even had mild stroke at some point but of course the chap I got him off never mentioned anything like that but did say to me that he though the bird had been neglected/mistreated at some point.

He also seems unable to fly (he is fully flighted) and has tried a couple of times but just ends up on the floor. Could this be related to the foot thing or simply just a case of him being cooped up for so long his flight muscles have wasted away?

Anyway I'm a bit concerned, I know it is early days and I've only got him home today so I'll keep my eye on him and see how things progress. I will also book an appointment at the vets as soon as I can get down there because I have other birds and I don't want to risk their health if it turns out he has something nasty wrong with him.

[rockybird]

I would be concerned about the foot and definitely seek a vet's opinion. My little guy cannot fly well at all. He flutters enough to get to the floor and that is about it.

As far as playing, I would give him some time. I have been going through a remodel and my caique, Zeek, quit playing. He used to wrestle, play chase, roll around with his toys. He stopped for months and just only now started playing again. I think to play like a caique plays means they need to feel complete safe and secure in their surroundings. They will totally expose themselves to harm. My bird will lay on his back with his tummy exposed wrestling with my fingers or playing with a toy. Give him some time, and it may take several months.
Be careful of bites. My wb caique will bite ferousciously. I have to really keep an eye on his moods. Also, they have tempers! You will know if you have upset them when they squeal like a pig. It is actually quite comical to hear.

I am really glad that you rescued him.

[huntress]

Its not uncommonfor Caiques not to fly well. As a matter of fact they think the only reason White bellied and Black Headed Caiques never mixed is simply because they are not the best flyers and never crossed the river where they come from as they dont habitate to far apart in the wild. So that being said if you have a bird that has not had much flight excercise...then Yes, he may not be able to fly at all if he is not in condition. I would have his foot checked out though. Its good he has someone who cares and in time I'm sure you can bring him out of his shell.

[SarahNya]

Thanks for the replies. I really hope he comes out a bit more, the foot thing doesn't seem to cause him much trouble though so I think he will just have a little trouble co-ordinating his movements sometimes.

As for flying I think it's probably due to him being overweight and not getting any exercise, the seed mix the guy had him on mainly consisted of sunflower seeds by the looks of it. I've got him on tidymix, harrisons pellets, sprouting beans and tons of fresh fruit and veg now but I don't think he has had much variety before as he won't touch mango, papaya, blueberries etc and tends to stick to more common fruit like grapes and orange.

Anyway there is plenty of time for him to learn and I don't really care if he never gets "cuddly" tame but I would like to see him enjoy himself a bit more

[SarahNya]

Quick update. He was playing in his cage with one of the toys today, obviously he is starting to feel at home a bit more and his foot seems better as he was scooting about on my kitchen floor earlier.

He still won't allow anyone to pet him in fact he bit me quite hard I guess it will take time, do you think he will actually ever allow anymore contact?

Also he keeps making a very high pitched almost metallic sounding call which he repeats every 3 seconds or so, I thought it was a contact call at first but I don't think so now as he was doing it whilst I was holding him. He doesn't do it ALL the time but quite frequently.

[Freedomoflight]

If the bird hasn't flown before, he won't know how. Caiques are said to be bad fliers, but talk to anyone with flighted birds and they will tell you different. They are extremely loud when they fly, and quite clunky they way they are built- they are the size of a sun conure but about 1/3 more of the weight. They prefer to hop/climb in comparison to climbing tho.

What were his living conditions like previously? If he didnt have a lot of space to climb play and fly his muscles might be atrophied.

[SarahNya]

I think that may be the case. His cage was about 60cm L 50cm D 150 H, it was pretty cramped and he only have a couple of old toys in there. The cage I've got him in now is 80cm L, 56 D 160 H but I do plan to buy him a Montana Miami eventually as it has a load of feeders and more room.

I do have another Caique (BH) but he is only a baby and doesn't display any adult behavior yet so I don't know whats normal, he just wants to hop about and play 24/7. I know they don't fly great, my baby one was very clumsy when I got him and could only fly in a straight line but now he is pretty good and can even hover on the spot for a short time (kinda looks like a hummingbird with the amount of effort he puts in).

I had him out quite a bit yesterday and he was definitely more interested in his surroundings which is a good sign, I was beginning to think he was a living statue.

He also displayed a couple of behaviors that I'd like to know what they meant and if they are "normal". He rested his head in my hand and "pawed" at me with one foot in a kind of digging motion and secondly he grabbed my finger and began to slap his wing against his body, I think it was some sort of display?

[Freedomoflight]

The poor guy is probably in shock. It may take him awhile to warm up to his new surroundings. My male I got at 3 and he is now 7, and he has calmed down a bit. Still totally caique, but not as much energy- he knows when to use it correctly, lets say. LOL

The first behavior you mentioned is kind of hard to pinpoint b/c no one but you saw it lol, and it can be difficult to explain these things. I would think it was more of a 'scratch my head right here' thing from what you said. When my male really gets into his scritches, he will completely lie down in my hands, head all fluffy, and if I stop he tries to move my finger to make me start again.

The second behavior could have been a pre-wrestle behavior, he wanted to play. Or it could have been a mating behavior, not sure. Its hard to envision and I don't think my two have ever displayed that.

[SarahNya]

Hmm I think I know what the head down wing flapping display is. He did it again tonight when I was holding him and my other half came in the room, he put his head down, eyes pinning and started to rhythmically flap his wings and took a chomp on my finger when he got closer. I think he was trying to scare him off and when he couldn't get to him he bit me instead lol

I'm quite used to this my Grey went through a phase of doing it all the time

[rockybird]

Sarah, be careful. My little male caique is the sweetest animal 99% of the time, but when his eyes pin, it is not because he is going to nip. It means he is going to bite and not let go. This also happens if there is a boyfriend around. Since I have been remodeling and had lots of workers in the house, it does seem to have improved. They are still wild animals to some extent.