caique biting

[hatzer@verizon.net]

My caique is about 21 months old and out of the blue the other day he flew at me and bit me on my forehead. Then I tried to get him to step up and he bit me on my hand-- enough to draw blood. I was shocked since he (or she) has never done that before. Any ideas ? I held him later on that night and he was better, but then I tried to take him off of another bird cage yesterday afternoon and he tried to bite again. While I am asking about him, he also is in a room with 3 other birds and I cannot keep him from climbing up on the other bird's cages and harrassing them. Should I move him to another area or room ? Thanks for any help you can give to me.

[chapala]

If your flighted bird is getting into trouble by both attacking you and landing on other birds' cages, it may be time for a seasonal wing clip to keep him from causing harm or getting bitten by the other birds while he's climbing on their cages. After he's clipped (and you can let the feathers grow out when breeding season is over if that's what has caused his change in behavior), I suggest training him to step up to a stick using lots of rewards. That way you will be able to handle and move him even if he's in a biting mood.

[hatzer@verizon.net]

The wings are trimmed. He just gets on the floor and climbs on the other bird's cages. He doesn't seem to want to stay on his own cage. He tries to open the food/water doors and to get into their cages.

[slic102]

I too have a caique, and I can't let him have the freedom that my quaker or sun have because he won't stay put at all.....ever! Hoping that will get better as he gets older....he just turned 1. As far as the biting thing goes, I'd guess that would be due to hormones. I have read that caiques can get VERY hormonal and bitey when they approach the 2 year old mark. I've yet to experience that so I don't have many answers. You might want to join the "crazy caique" forum ( Caique Forum - Powered by vBulletin ) to get some answers. There are lots of experienced caique owners there that can help you out. I'm fairly new on this board, so I'm not sure how many here are owned by these crazy birds.

[chapala]

If he already is clipped, then you will have to keep him caged when you're not right there to supervise. How did he fly at you and bite you in the forehead if he's clipped? And yes, you may want to consider moving him to another room if he is drawn to the other cages - that way he can have more out time without getting into trouble.

[rockybird]

I have a couple posts on this board about biting. My male caique started biting at about 3 yrs. of age - terrible bites. Most of the time, he is a real sweetheart. I have found that the causes for his biting involve anger at me for ignoring him. For instance, today I took a shower while he was in the cage. Normally, he is playing on the bathroom counter while I shower. He was calling for me downstairs, but I was in a hurry. Then I left the house. This apparently threw him into a rage. When I got home, his eyes were pinpoint. He finally calmed down and I took him outside for a walk, but he was still angry so I got him back on the cage before I got bit. He has also attacked me for talking on the cell phone (I cannot do this when he is on my shoulder or he will go for my face or hand or the phone), wearing sunglasses in the house (he knows I wear these when I am LEAVING), or wearing my Tory Burch boots (he knows this also means I am leaving). He attacks my car keys, I assume because he knows I carry these when I leave the house. I would look for reasons why he might be angry. I might guess that he is angry at you for what he perceives as ignoring him. I would be careful with the other birds. If he thinks you are ignoring him for another bird, he may attack it. My caique viciously attacks my keys, sunglasses, boots and cell phone. If he bites like my caique, he could kill another bird. I do think that some of this behavior is hormonal as it always seems to happen in the spring. 99% of the time my little guy is an affectionate sweetheart, but I have learned to watch those eyes for pinning and take precautions. I am sorry your bird is biting. I really hurts my feelings when my little guy bites. But they are still, for all purposes, wild animals, and some behavior is out of our control. Please be careful to keep him away from your face and the other birds.

[hatzer@verizon.net]

Okay, maybe I shouldn't have said he flew at me and bit my forehead. I was putting the food dish into my quaker's cage and he was on top of it. He jumped on top of my head from there and bit me. I thought maybe it was because I was wearing earrings, but even with them off I got bitten.
Also, was wondering if anyone gets the beaks on their birds trimmed. I have had his trimmed once because it gets quite long, pointed and hooked.

[joycetrue]

I am also having biting issues with my black headed Caique who is about 3 years old. Those eyes go wacko when he is really for a rage. He is our only bird and we have no children so he gets lots and lots attention. Guess it is the spring hormone thing. He has always been aggressive and never really a sweet cuddle bird because Caiques do not sit still for more than a second.

[sweetpeaches]

Most caiques will go through a more hormonal time around 2 to 3 years old. This is when they are known to reach their sexual maturity as so many other parrots do. Altho of course they can get aggressive for other reasons, the fact that he is almost 2 could be a very good reason he's acting this way right now. I would say the best thing to do for awhile (this can last a couple of months or more) is to give him his space. If he's pinning his eyes then that's his signal he may be getting ready to bite..so try and just leave him be. Many caique owners have learned very much about this hormonal/sexual behavior and have paitently waited for their fids to 'go through" this time and to be rewarded with the sweet playful caique they once knew. Most important of all don't take this personal. He is only doing what comes naturally.