4 year old caique male

[Pharoh]

Hello,
I'm considering adopting a 4 year old WB caique male.
But I was wondering if females make better pets than males?
Or maybe I should consider a baby rather than a 4 year old bird.
Please I need some feed back on this. Thank you

[Freedomoflight]

Rehome birds make excellent pets, and age doesn't matter. My caiques I adopted at ages 7 and 3, and they make excellent companions. Male/female also makes no difference. Go with what you feel. Other then age is there any reason you are hesitating in adopting the bird?

[Pharoh]

No there is no other reason.
The older parrots is closer, than the younger parrot.
Here is what the breeder of the younger parrot had to say:

"I can say that you will be able to mold a young baby to your habits and likes compared to a little bit older one that already is used to life the way it is now in its current household. Also, sometime a bird will like one sex or another if it hasn't been socialized well. My baby has been handled by men and women and shows no preference to either which is really important."

So i'm really torn.

[Freedomoflight]

Frankly I think ti sounds like that breeder is really trying to sell you on a younger bird. While yes, younger birds aren't 'touched' in the ways older birds are, ther is no saying that an older bird cannot change its ways and settle in well with a new family. Any bird, no matter how well socialized, can suddenly pick a favorite human and become 'glued' to them. Caiques are actually not well known for that- they are very personable, like meeting new people, and even if they have favorite people won't hesitate in meeting others. that perfect baby that you get will grow and go through puberty and change - like ALL birds do. Thats actually one advantage to having an older bird- you already know their personality after they've gone thru puberty, so no nasty surprises.

[Tom Lawless]

I'm no expert on birds. I've got two. Both were babies when I got them. I have to tell you that I'm not sure how much molding I've done or how much I've been the one who has been molded. I'm willing to bet it's a little of both and, from everything I've read, the birds I enjoy now will have entirely different personalities as they evolve over time and go through different life stages (i.e. adolescence). I admit I was a little afraid of starting with an older, rehomed bird due to my inexperience but the more I get to know the birds I've got and the more I read the success stories of people on this board with older birds, the more I am thinking that I may have unnecessarily ruled out some good options. If I were to get another bird (hypothetical - two's the limit) I would most certainly consider an older bird as long as I could meet it and see how we hit it off. I'm not saying get the older bird but I would try to visit both and see what seems like the better fit.

[Pharoh]

I greatly appreciate everyones opinions in helping me make my decision.

Thank You