Seriously considering a caique

[Abby]

A caique has been a bird that I've been looking at for a few years now. The price here in Australia has made me think twice though. There's been a dramatic price drop in the past couple of years and the BH are now more around the $2000 mark. Much more affordable.

I spoke to a breeder yesterday to verify this rumour, explained about the hahns girls (link for background on that story My latest project (pics) ) and how Arthur (my grey ) really doesn't cope with them, to the point we moved them out the room. That had been a concern for me with looking at keeping one. The breeder felt that a caique may fit in better.

I still have to get the girls feathered up (Cally and Lilly are getting tail feathers, woohoo) which will take while still and need to work with the girls more. I spoke to my husband and he admitted that he'd prefer a caique over the hahns. I guess I was hoping that one of the benefits of the hahns girls would be that he'd click with one (after having to rehome his bird Coco). He hasn't though. looking at a good 6 months before putting our names down with someone.

Whilst I find the forums useful I relly like books as a solid ready at hand source of information. Can anyone recommend some decent caique books. The Rosemary Low one looks pretty good, any thoughts on that one?

[LovelySydney]

I know nothing about where to find books but I just wanted to say congrats on your *maybe* caique and I cant wait to hear if and when you bring one home. I have heard really good things about caiques - although I cannot believe that they are nearly $2000 in your area, and you find that to be a somewhat LOWER price! Yeesh!!

[Abby]

When I picked up Arthur a couple of years ago they were $12000 - $14000 for a pair so yeah, $2000 each is a big price dump.

[LovelySydney]

Wait wait wait - you're talking twelve THOUSAND dollars for a pair?! So roughly $6,000 a piece!!! That is amazing to me. You can get one in the States (at least from what Ive seen) from $600-$800, you should arrange to get one from here shipped to you. That is such an astounding price difference. They must be rare where you are?

[Falsk]

Originally Posted by Abby

When I picked up Arthur a couple of years ago they were $12000 - $14000 for a pair so yeah, $2000 each is a big price dump.

They're about $750 around here... and I thought that was pricey... Shew.

[hatchling]

but a cockatoo in Australia must be ridiculously cheap compared to here, right?

[Phenomenon]

I have this book from Amazon.com:

Caiques (Complete Pet Owner's Manual) by Mary Gorman (Paperback - April 1, 2006)
Buy new: $8.9930 Used & new from $2.77
Get it by Wednesday, Oct 7 if you order in the next 8 hours and choose one-day shipping.

Very informative and intertaining.

[Freedomoflight]

The Rosemary Lowe one is about the only I'd recommend. If you like I have a caique contact in Kiama I can put you in touch with.

[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!

[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.