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I got Yankee exactly 2 weeks ago. He has made up to me really well and he is eating great, although he is ignoring his vegetables. He is eating pellets, nutriberries, and a good seed mixture. I bought him some dried vegies today and he did eat some of those. Anyway...

I had a lot of what I thought were great toys before I got him but he hasn't shown any interest in them. I bought the expensive sleep hut that the breeder said that he slept in but he sleeps on top of it. He does use the ladder, but that is about it. My question is "what are your caiques's favorite toys?"

Before anyone asks, he appears very healthy. He eats very well, he poops plenty, his eyes are bright, and his feathers are shiny and not ruffled. He appears to watch everything that is going on and I notice no special lethargy. I hope that I don't have the exception to the rule, a lazy, couch potato.

Spyro really likes bells, chains, and balls. His one toy is a big wiffle ball like thing with chains and blocks hanging off it. He also enjoys chewing up the popsicle stick toys. It's just a long chain with lots of sticks. But mostly he is a chain and bells kind of bird. How long have you had your guy? How old is he?

I have had Yankee for 2 weeks and he was born June 27. He is gentle with me but still shy, which I understand. We are making progress every day in our relationship.

Lola is 2 and 1/2 and when i got her at 3 months, she was very quiet and wanted to be held by me. She wasn't always a crazy caique. She wouldnt use her playgym...so I got her a shower perch and I suctioncuped it to my back door... its a sliding door looking out to a big backyard. From the hook attached to it, I hung a big Boing...she'd sit there for HOURS!!! Seriously.. here's a pic I took....


and here's the whole thing:


So, at about 9 months old she wouldnt sit there anymore, so I tried the playgym and it was a hit....so she has loved her gym ever since then!

Her favorite toys are chewable ones... like the palm leaf Shredables, or little vine munch balls...Krazy Kookies, paper....she also likes wing nuts, washers, spoons and metal! lol So I got some cool toys from Greyfeathertoys.com She also likes soft wood, calcium blocks, toys made with coconut fiber.
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What great pictures. I started to say that I can't wait until Yankee gets her adult coloring but I can because I want to enjoy every stage of his development. He stayed on his playgym for about an hour and then jumped down on the floor, so I put him back in his cage. He loves to look out the window. His cage looks out onto my back yard and patio. He also seems to like some of the sun he gets for a short period. Today he has been playing on his ladder. He goes in and out of the rungs over and over. I will try to post some pictures later today. He really is a beauty.

Thanks for the help.

Cathy wrote:I got Yankee exactly 2 weeks ago. He has made up to me really well and he is eating great, although he is ignoring his vegetables. He is eating pellets, nutriberries, and a good seed mixture. I bought him some dried vegies today and he did eat some of those. Anyway...

I had a lot of what I thought were great toys before I got him but he hasn't shown any interest in them. I bought the expensive sleep hut that the breeder said that he slept in but he sleeps on top of it. He does use the ladder, but that is about it. My question is "what are your caiques's favorite toys?"

Before anyone asks, he appears very healthy. He eats very well, he poops plenty, his eyes are bright, and his feathers are shiny and not ruffled. He appears to watch everything that is going on and I notice no special lethargy. I hope that I don't have the exception to the rule, a lazy, couch potato.

Hi Cathy,

Yankee is probably still taking in his environment. I am sure that Jamie did not play that much in the first two weeks.

Jamie loves acrylic toys. Here is a link to a good site. The gentleman who makes the toys has 3 caiques so he knows what they like

http://www.dustysbirdtoys.com/

Jamies especially likes the acrylic toys she can hang upside down from

Jamie also likes shredable/wodden toys (though not as much).

You can see some of Jamie's favourite toys on the link below (though that's only a very small portion of her toys - I change them every few weeks. Don't ask how many boxes of toys she has! lol)

http://www.nvan.com/kate/JamieCastle/home.htm

You can encourage Yankee by playing with a toy yourself when he is out. He will probably be interested in what you are doing. But don't worry, he will play more once he settles in


Kate

I know that this may seem like an odd question but Yankee still seems unbalanced when I hold him. He is getting better but so many of you talk about cuddling and I'm curious as to how your caiques like to cuddle. I don't let Yankee in my hair, it's too painful and I don't like to highlight my hair with birdie poop. My lovebirds and my p'let like to cuddle under my chin or on the back of my neck. But, Yankee seems to get kind of nervous so I was just wondering how your caique likes to cuddle?

Caiques like to cuddle the same way - as you described. Jamie also loves to go in my fleece sweatshirt and cuddle on my chest (with my arms folded in front of me). Once I start giving her scritches, she totally relaxes, lays down on her belly or her side with her legs behind her and put her head on my chest, her feathers all relaxed. It's totally amazing. I have seen cockatoos do that but no other birds.

Just give Yankee time. Don't push him too hard - he will trust in you more and more and he will be more relaxed.

As for Yankee being "unbalanced", that is normal for a baby. Jamie had trouble climbing up the vertical bars in her cage when I first got her. You should see her now! lol She climbs up those bars with a big foot toy in her beak



Kate