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Wow, I had my new caique, Yankee, sitting on my hand when my parrotlet flew over to me. She had been eating out of her hanging gourd. It was the first time that I had had both of them out at the same time. Yankee had been raised with other birds but I didn't know how he would react, so I was watching carefully and wham! He went for her. Luckily, I scooped her out of the way of the attacking beaK and put her back in her cage in another room, immediately!

It is obvious that I can never let my little birds out when Yankee is out. I also have 2 lovebirds. I have moved Yankee into my bedroom and sitting room to spend the maximum amount of time with him in the evening since I teach all day. I watch TV and sit with my laptop in my sitting room most evenings. My other 3 birds are in my bird room where I had put Yankee, at first. I have been bringing all of my birds into my room in the evening in stages but tonight I almost made a fatal blunder and it scared me.

Does anyone else have a caique that socializes with their other birds?

Hi Cathy,

You are right - you have to be really careful. The difference between the size of a caique and a lovebird/parotlet is just too great. You caique could easily kill (or hurt badly) one of your other birds in seconds.

Having said that, your caique might enjoy the company of the other birds during the day when you are at work. I am assuming that the other birds are in their cages during the day - otherwise this would not work. But if none of the birds are agitated when all birds are in the bird room, I would definitely leave Yankee in there during the day. It will give him something to watch and hopefully prevent future potential problems.

My caique ignores my Senegal but they are never close to each other (unless I hold one of them). They can preen one second and but they can become really mad at each other very quickly.

But Joey (my Senegal) loves having the company of anorther bird in the room. He has calmed down so much when I got Jamie, he never really screams anymore and he hasn't plucked since she came home 2.5 years ago.


Kate

I have heard that Caiques are not good around smaller birds for a few reasons. I didn't know that until after we got Dweezel and have never thought twice about him being out with the other birds. He was very bonded to a little lovebird we had (who passed last Dec.) that we actually got after we got Dweezel. I don't remember how they bonded but at some point, they were inseperable. Dweezel couldn't go anywhere without little Thor at his side. I have a pic of them on my web site http://www.toolady.com/www/breeders/bri ... index.html
Now that I breed lovebirds, I am careful with him around young birds, but as they get older, they fly from him if he gets too rough. I never leave them unsupervised but I trust him to listen to me if I tell him to stop (and he does). All I have to say is "Dweezel, go!" and he will fly to another stand and leave the little guys alone.
My senegal and Dweezel used to get along until Dweezel reach puberty and then he started chasing her. Now they are in seperate cages but get to come out of their cages together.

brimonster wrote:I have heard that Caiques are not good around smaller birds for a few reasons. I didn't know that until after we got Dweezel and have never thought twice about him being out with the other birds. He was very bonded to a little lovebird we had (who passed last Dec.) that we actually got after we got Dweezel. I don't remember how they bonded but at some point, they were inseperable. Dweezel couldn't go anywhere without little Thor at his side. I have a pic of them on my web site http://www.toolady.com/www/breeders/bri ... index.html
Now that I breed lovebirds, I am careful with him around young birds, but as they get older, they fly from him if he gets too rough. I never leave them unsupervised but I trust him to listen to me if I tell him to stop (and he does). All I have to say is "Dweezel, go!" and he will fly to another stand and leave the little guys alone.
My senegal and Dweezel used to get along until Dweezel reach puberty and then he started chasing her. Now they are in seperate cages but get to come out of their cages together.

Oh that pic is absolutley precious!! LOVE IT! and I'm so sorry about the passing of Thor..

(cute name!)

There is a bird and small animal store that I've known the owners for years... got all my 'keets there. Well, they had 4 WBC and 1 BHC... the BHC was a few months younger than the WBCs. Well, I went in there one day and I commented how cute the WBCs are and the manager told me they were great with people and eachother and really mean with the other birds... they were in a huge bird room with an african grey, an eclectus and a few conures. The bigger birds were actually afraid of the WBCs... the BHC was such a little nut...cutest little bugger. WELL...one day a few weeks later I went into the store to get food for Lola and I always go say hello to the parrots. I noticed the BHC wasnt there and I figured either someone bought him or the owner brought him to her house, so I asked the manager where he was and she said they came in one morning and found him dead.. the WBC's killed him I was almost in tears..I was SHOCKED! So now the bird room is filled with seperate cages and the birds arent allowed with eachother. How sad it was... that BHC would have made an awesome pet, he didnt even get a chance

So there's a lesson for ya!!! Always keep an eye on your little fids around other fids!!!!

PS. Lola doesnt pay any attention to other birds..not even her reflection. My friend has a senegal and we take Lola over to their house for bird parties... the 1st time I brought her there her sennie wanted so VERY much to see Lola.. he was jumping on me to get to her. Not in an agressive way tho... but we kept them apart.. they have beaked thru the cage and lola has preened his head thru the cage.. it's cute! But i'd never let them hang together without one of each holding a bird. They move too quick!

At the Parrot Connection, where I got Daisy, the Parrot specialist warned me to be careful because Caique's are noted for killing other birds. I also have a senegal. But since the senegal is 3 years old, I thought they might have a chance. But NO.... we had them both on the floor, my hubby with the senegal and me with Daisy...... and Murphy charged with beak open with no good intentions. We just won't take the chance. Wings are clipped so both birds can be out of the cage at the same time, both on their cages or play gyms or wooden branches... but far enough away from each other we'd have a chance to get them if one should try. I guess just like kids, they need their 'special' time with us, so they get it. Spoiled birds.... YES!!!

This is one of the many reasons I warn people who get caiques, about thinking they'll be able to 'play' with their other birds.
My caique will go after the cats as well as my eclectus. Size is of no importance. It is also the reason I tell folks to not keep 2 caiques in the same cage unsupervised. Most can play together if they're raised together at a young age and they can sleep together, but to expect them to live together in the same cage all day is asking for trouble.
They can be aggressive birds, and extreme caution must also be used if they are around other animals.