is two better than one?

[alwaysontimneh]

Hubby and I are looking at getting a caique sometime in the near future. I see so many people have more than one and since they are so hyper and need a lot of play time I was wondering if they do better when kept in pairs. I realize that means more work, more food, more attention, and more mess lol. I would not get two of different sex because I would not want them to breed but if I got two brothers or something and kept them caged together would they be happier then one that is kept singular? We have a TAG right now and realize that they will most likely not get a long since their personalities are so opposite and will keep them separate. Knowing that caiques in nature are in flocks of around 30 or more is what made us think that they might do better with another caique.

Thanks for any help

[conure4]

I have two males that just hate each other and will attack each other if they get close enough. I have hear you can have two females together, male and female, but normally two males do not get along. I was told by my breeder that if I did not want to breed to get two males and it may have worked if I got them at the same time, but I could not afford two at that time. Talk to you breeder and see what they say and maybe buy both at the same time where the breeder can see which ones get alone. I wish my two would get along, as caiques do have a lot of energy and them playing together would have helped, but I know now that that will never happen with my two. Good luck on your decision.
Mitzi

[sweetpeaches]

I just have one caique...and he does fine by himself. He has lots of toys in his cage..floor toys and hanging toys..all day he just goes from one to another. I know some think it's good to have more than one, there was an article awhile back in Birdtalk Mag. about owning 2 caiques. I know others who just have one and have no problems. I also know those who have caiques that get along well with other species of parrots and then there are those who don't. Really think it depends on the individual personality of the bird and it's enviornment.

Bailey has bonded with me quite a bit. He just likes to "see" me all the time.
He doesn't necessarliy want to get out of his cage he just likes to know I'm around. When I go into another room he'll start contact calling me. He doesn't do this with anyone else in the house. My hubby says when I'm at work all day he just plays happily in his cage.

When I am home I take him out to play on his playstand or just climb on his cage. I try not to set up a "routine" for him because don't want him to expect for me to be there all the time when he wants me. It can drive you crazy..they're just like kids!

They are quite "beaky" birds. Which is fine with me as I keep him "in check".
He's 1 1/2 now and I've had him for a year. He's never bitten or lunged at me or anyone else yet. There are times he can clamp down a bit hard but I just redirect him (they can get pretty riled up). But they are such fun! And just happy playful little guys. I just love em...and hope to have him around for a long time!

Wish you the best in your endeavors.

[MicahEspudo]

Originally Posted by conure4

I have two males that just hate each other and will attack each other if they get close enough. I have hear you can have two females together, male and female, but normally two males do not get along. I was told by my breeder that if I did not want to breed to get two males and it may have worked if I got them at the same time, but I could not afford two at that time. Talk to you breeder and see what they say and maybe buy both at the same time where the breeder can see which ones get alone. I wish my two would get along, as caiques do have a lot of energy and them playing together would have helped, but I know now that that will never happen with my two. Good luck on your decision.
Mitzi

I would strongly advise you do not get two females.... two females are the least likely combo to get along.
A male and female are the most likely...
and a male and a male will probably get along.
But never get two females because that could be dangerous!

And yes if your intention is to put them in the same cage then I would advise you to get them at the same time.
I would not be impatient like the above poster and I would save up more until I had enough money to get both together!

[alwaysontimneh]

If I were to get two of them I would get them at the same time and would try and get two that were related. Breeding is not something I ever want to deal with so that is why I was thinking two males since it seems no matter what species of animals woman do not like other woman LOL. I still have a lot of time though since its not their season yet.

[Alan]

I have 2 a WBC and a BHC, when i brought them home I was told that they are both male. They are around 5. I rehomed them just a bit ago I haven't been able to have them sexed yet but just due to behavior i think I have a male and female. They get a long pretty good and do live in the same cage with each other. I have to watch them when it's bath time and make sure that they are both dry before I put them back together. But other than that they are fine for the most part.

[Addicted to Tequila]

Wait for FreedomOfFlight to chime in. She is the resident Caique specialist!

[Freedomoflight]

Ooops sorry on the lateness about this, guys!

Actually, someone around here used a phrase which I think pertains to caiques exactly: Caiques are like beta fish. Two males is not the 'ideal' pairing. The most common pairing you see is male/female or female/female, I knew very few people with male/male pairings. If you get the two together as babies they are more likely to get along when they hit maturity, so that situation is ideal if you do want to bring two caiques into your home in the future.
I like two caiques, they can wrestle with each other, preen each other, and wear each other out and it makes the household a lot easier to deal with sometimes lol. They are like kids on a constant sugar high and really will wear each other out wrestling and all that good stuff. But there is also absolutely nothing wrong with one caique. I think the reason you see a lot of caique multiples is because they are so much fun to watch when they play together!

[alwaysontimneh]

I figured that two would be good for the playing and wearing each other out LOL. The more we look into them the more we like the idea of getting two of them. I think I will make sure that I have enough set aside for two of them just in case LOL. Hubby actually did not want to get a female bird because of egg laying and such. So being that I do not want them to breed especially since they would be siblings if I got two, a female pair is better? Now if we did get a male and female is there a way to prevent breeding or will they know they are related? I doubt they will know but hey I am not an expert.

[xafsmom]

One of the wonderful things about Caiques is that they retain their human bonds just as strongly as before the 'second bird', especially if you get them together. There are no 'third wheels' in Caique-land.

If you do consider two boys, I would definitely get them from the get go. I have a friend who's just waiting on my pairs to produce. She wants a BH and a WB; so she can tell them apart! *laughs*