What are Caiques like?

[Fairydust125]

I know they MUST be playful cause everytime i visit my local bird store they are the birds i see wrestling on their backs with eachother and just crack me up!! That is what interested me about them..but i am trying to find out more about them and if this would be a good bird for me. They are really cute. I have some ques. if someone can answer please...first off...do you have to have 2 or can you just have 1 so that it can bond with the owner? Do they learn to talk, do they sing, are they noisy? are they a good apartment pet? what do you like about yours? And do the females differ to the males in terms of personality, noise etc? Thanks guys!! I'm trying to decide between getting a Pionus, an amazon, a Caique, a lorikeet and a Senegal...any info on either would be helpful :) btw i currently have a cockatiel so they must get along but they would be in diff. cages of course

[Merlie]

I own two BHC .. and I love them to death, they are the funniest little guys ever .. and do live up to their reputation as the clowns of the bird world.

They are not known for talking, some do, but generally it's not their strong suit.

They can be loud .. no doubt about that .. mine get going a bit in the mornings, and usually again around bedtime. It's not a scream per say, but a high pitched, almost locust type call.

Caiques have a reputation for being aggressive toward other birds .. esp. as they hit puberty. Mine aren't even 1 yet, so I've not experienced that, but have read about the issue enough to believe it could be a problem. That being said, I also know of people who have Cakes that are best friends with other types of birds.

They are extremely strong willed, and again, I've been told, can be quite a handful at puberty, and thru hormonal times, so they're not birds that you can let run you.

I don't know if mine are male or female ... I haven't had them sexed, so I don't know if females differ from males personality wise.

I love the fact that while they love to interact with me, they are also independant and will play for hours on their playstand with each other or with their toys. They don't strike me as "needy" birds.

They play rough .. not like any bird I've every owned. They love, love, love to wrestle with my hands and will wrestle and tumble all over the place with each other. I think that's part of the reason why they are not often good around other birds, their style of play is so unique to Caiques that many other species of birds would not appreciate it at all.

Personally, I don't see them as a "beginner" bird, nor do I see them being great apt. birds .. but again each bird is unique, so I hate to make blanket statements.

Hope that answers some of your questions.

[LovelySydney]

I think they are beautiful birds - I would like to own one one day!!

[Flappuccino]

I have a BHC. He is LOUD! I got him when he was almost 4 and came with some undesireable habits. Screams alot.

The previous poster was absolutely correct about hormonal times. I could barely deal with him in the spring.

Most of the time he is playful and cuddly, hates young children, shreds my shirts, very bird aggressive, messy, very funny, would destroy my couch if I wasn't watching, talks a bit, bossy and spoiled.

Of all the birds you mentioned in your post, I'd recommend a pi if you live in an apartment.

[Scooter]

What everyone has said is right on. One caique by itself might be okay in an apt - but each time I added another caique to our family, the screaming level increased. If one starts, they all seem to feel the need to respond. I would like to know what they are saying in their little birdy language. Sometimes they just scream because they are happy and because that is how they communicate.

There antics are very comical, but after sexual maturity, they can be much more of a challenge. I guess what I am saying is that you need to be prepared to put in much more effort with a caique. They are definitely worth it, but you need to make the time. I had a pionus in my home for a short time while finding him a new home and truly enjoyed him. They are much quieter and laid back. He had much the same personality of my amazon. He never screamed - when the others screamed and he got excited, he would start talking. At times I wish I had kept him, but I thought he needed to be in a quieter, calmer home. He had always been an "only" bird, so I thought he would be stressed here. A caique is always on the go - the pionus would take little naps throughout the day. I have never caught any of my caiques sleeping during the day. They may sit quietly and seem to be daydreaming but I have never seen them close their eyes. They are busy busy little birds. But I love them for what they are. But I think that if I am ever able to get one more bird and I find a maxi pionus for a good price, since I am not working now, I will be very tempted. He was not as needy as my caiques. They all want to be on me - I either brought them up wrong, or they think I am a tree.

[failurebydesign]

Originally Posted by Scooter

or they think I am a tree.

LOL omg

[rockybird]

Everything the people above have said is right on. My caique is a male. He is very aggressive in the spring. He will only tolerate my gcc, but any other birds he wants to kill. He is extremely needy. He always wants to be with me. He loves to wrestle, cuddle and eat. He is very loud and demanding. He loves to explore but is very insecure at the same time. I do not think they would make good apt. birds. I love him very much, but these birds require a humungous commitment. They want you to be constantly engaged with them. They will not sit still. It is like having a loud two-year who can bite.

[Flappuccino]

Originally Posted by rockybird

. It is like having a loud two-year who can bite.

lol- yep!

[Fairydust125]

Wow thanks guys! Sounds like a reg. parrot....just by looking at them i never thought they'd be aggressive, they look so sweet. They do look hyper but i like that and can deal with it..i think i will prob. get one later on when i live in a house. I'm afraid it would be too loud and the neighbors would hear. Anyhow they sound like such fun!! Maybe in the future when i move :) I was thinking about a Pionus and almost got one but then I was like i want something with a lot of personality, not that they dont have cause i've never owned one so i don't know...but i did hear they are more chill and relaxed. Which is fine but i like when they are mischievious, it cute. Anywho i got a cockatiel intead thats why i didnt get the pionus, and cockatiels are perfect, i love them. But i would like to add another bird to the fam. later on, a different kind of bird. I've never owned a parrot before and want to so im doing my research now