Seriously considering a caique

[Abby]

Thanks for that. I'll get hold of those books next amazon order. Kicking myself as I only made an order a few days ago.

Any contacts would be great Emily.

I appreciate all the opinions, even the negative based ones. Just makes me realise a few things I need to watch.

[Emmilyy]

I fell in love with a caique at the local pet store months agoo. Sweetest bird EVER! i couldn't get over how friendly and pretty he was!

[Freedomoflight]

Originally Posted by ThreeX

Unfortunately, as much as i like them i can't recommend them, unless you are going to have it/them as only bird/s in the house. They are the epitome of cute and funny -but- they have a nasty tendency to bite simply because they can, and by the time they become sexually mature - watch out. I'd place them up with the BFA's in ferocity, they are veritable pit bulls and *will* attack anything/one regardless of size. They are also known to be triggered by everyday objects or happenings, such as hairdryers, making phonecalls etc. Add to that their beautiful imitation of a seagull :) and you have a bird that to me is, über-cute and funny, but no thanks. Of the 10-ish Caique owners i personally know 2 still have theirs..
Oh and for a very good source of info:
http://caiquesite.com/
All the best of luck if you decide to give it a try : )

EDIT: A breeder friend of mine bred caiques and amazons (i don't remember what kind, think it was YN's) In any case the wee caiques totally pwned the zons and they ran for cover at the sight of the little clowns!

Originally Posted by failurebydesign

They were one of the species I was thinking about getting before my eclectus but decided against it after all that I had heard about them biting and being hyper all day.
When I picked Tiki up the breeder had a few of them and one was ridiculously loud for such a small bird.

There was something about the scream it made that made me consider smashing my face into a wall really hard.

The things I have been preaching about in regards to caiques for years... I remember when I used to get blasted for saying that I made caiques sound bad! I love hearing this from other people :) Seriously. What ThreeX said sounds exactly like my hellions. However much I love them, they are a pain in the butt and few can put up with them much less potentially live with them.

Abby I'll shoot you an email.

[Abby]

Ok I may come off as arrogant but I guess I feel with my experience and my entry into the behavioural area I should be able to deal with one of these little hellions (love that description btw). Do I think it's going to be a piece of cake? No, definitely not. That wouldn't be arrogance, it would be stupidity.

Please keep it coming. The more I'm prepared the better.

[ThreeX]

Originally Posted by Abby

Ok I may come off as arrogant but I guess I feel with my experience and my entry into the behavioural area I should be able to deal with one of these little hellions (love that description btw).

Without questioning your knowledge or anything - don't bet on it. They share the ability to go amok beyond responding with the hot three zons. The friends i am referring to in my earlier post know all to well that when a caique throws a wobbler - run for cover.. Again, they don't care if it's a parrotlet, hyacint macaw or a Leonberger - it's "mission kill" regardless. They truly have a Hindenburg ego, the little buggers :)

[Abby]

I really appreciate your honesty with this threeX.

I wish more people, including myself would say what you and Emily are saying. it means I'm not going in blind and then wondering what I've gotten myself into.

For me there's just something about them. It's not looks, although they do appeal to me visually, it's, just something in there that gets to me. I had the same feel when I met my first grey.

[Flappuccino]

Hi Abby,

I have a 4 yr old re-homed caique. All of the above advice is really good, and it's great that you have so much experience with birds.

I don't remember if you said you were getting a baby or adopting an adult...

I know there are WONDERFUL adult birds out there that need homes, but, personally, I'd never get an adult caique again.

Caiques are very headstrong and bossy. Mine is extremely bird-aggressive. I can't have him out with anyone else, nor can I have the smaller birds out without Nokomis being covered, so no one lands on his cage. He even tried to kill my gcc through the bars of the gcc cage before I could run over there. Nokomis is louder than any bird I've ever known, including a U2 I know. My husband has been trying to get me to re-home him due to the extreme noise.

If I had it to do all over again, I'd get a baby for sure. Too many things can go wong with an unexperienced owner, and that can lead to serious behavioral issues with such a powerful personality as a caique. I'd get a baby and raise it properly from the start.

Caiques are pretty needy as far as one-on-one attention, too. Hopefully that won't take away from your other guys.

They are wonderful, funny, beautiful birds, and I love mine very much. He just takes ALOT of work, time, patience, and a good set of earplugs!

Good luck, whatever you choose!

[Abby]

It would be a young one. They just aren't a bird that you see offered for rehome here in Australia. Not many around to start with.

[Freedomoflight]

Abby I think you will be fine... I think you actually have the perfect setup for caiques to thrive in, in all honesty. Mine would be much better off chucking them in an aviary I think. Seriously.

[Greycloud]

Learning all I have about you Abby, I think you have the experience to own a caique. I had a little girl caique that I had shipped from florida to maryland. The breeder was Shadypines aviary. Shelby was a wonderful little bird. She did not talk and she could screech some, along the lines of a sun but not real often. Extremely playful, funny and loved to snuggle. Now this might not be the norm. The breeder specializes in caiques and she did a great job socializing her babies. Unfortunately I had a ***hole of a husband at the time and he did not take to her little parrot soundoffs. It was him or the bird, I had 2 little kids so need I say more. He next wanted me to get rid of my dogs! I kicked him to the curb.
Shelby was rehomed to a wonderful lady who is a tech for my vet. I just talked to her yesterday and Shelby is doing great. Does not like the husband but loves her and her daughter. She says a couple words and is a great form of enjoyment for them.
So, in my opinion it depends on early socialization and knowing how to earn the trust and give the trust to a caique. I loved mine.