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I'm sure we'll learn together. He fell off of his play gym and came running across the floor to me so I picked him up and he started in on a tantrum but I kept calm and diverted his attention. He loves to surf in kleenex in my hand so I waved one at him and he forgot for a minute and then he would remember and growl and so I would hold real still and hope that he would be good and he was.

Good job Cathy! You did the right thing. Always remember, the manners and discipline he learns now, will be with him forever. You will have to maintain that discipline throughout his life, but the basics always remain in their heads and it will help you feel secure in the fact that you have made the effort to learn his body language and be prepared for it.
a

No, caiques are no more unpredictable than any other species. You just have to learn how to read their body language and that takes time. They are actually VERY predictable.
a

I’m trying to understand, and I know it will take time. Right now I have some really nasty Caique bites on my hands from my female breeder Mango. It was going good between us…then two days ago while hanging up a new toy in her cage Mango attacked me. Maybe the toy scared her or something! I don’t know… but my hand still hurts badly. She bit me almost to the bone and the bite in all red, blue, and swollen still.
Then when I went back to feed Mango the next day and she attacked me as soon as her cage door was open. Then, after Mango attacked me she turned on Peaches and pulled out a big chunk of feather out of the top of his head.
Then when I tried to feed her last night Mango threw herself against the bars of the cage and wouldn’t even let me open up the door. So I put on a pair of heavy leather gloves to at least try and get food in the cage. She attacked the gloves on my hand and managed to bite throw them and draw more of my blood, but at least I got food in their cage.
Then Peaches came up to get some food out of the bowl I just filled, but Mango ran up and bit him then stretched out to cover the whole food bowl up with her body. Peaches tried to nug her gently with his beak to get some food only to get more feathers ripped put of his poor head. Peaches has a lot of patience with his mate who ‘I think must be going through menopause or something! But when if came to his food bowl the I think he had enough because he bite her back…but unforchitly for peaches, Mango would not move from the bowl. So I got some apple pieces to give peaches through the bars of the cage. But Mango ran over grabbed them from peaches and throw them out of the cage. So I tried a big piece of apple. Opened the cage door and mango attacked me. I put the apple between her and my hand and she viscously attacked the apple only to get apple pieces all over herself. Then she suddenly stopped as if she just discovered she was destroying a million dollar bill and started happily eating the apple like nothing had happened. So I tried to change the water bowl…but as soon as I touched it she stopped eating her apple and went after me again. I’m feeling at my limit here guys. What should I do! I don’t want them to go hungry and there water bowl is a bad mess and needs to be cleaned.

What is your history with this pair? Are they breeders you're now trying to have as companions?
To be totally honest with you, the birds can be side by side, but they should be in separate cages.
She will never let him have food, especially if you're around. Caiques have been well documented to kill their mate and she will only continue to keep him from food, and to pluck at him.
I would find a separate cage for the male, but you can still have them near so they can see each other.
As long as she thinks you're taking her food, his food or trying to get close to him, she'll never settle down.
You may have to cover her cage while you work with him, play with him and/or feed him.
You may also have to do the same thing with him when trying to interact with her.
Does the cage have outside door access? Caiques need very large cages and if they are both kept, together, in a cage that is too small, you will, I'm sorry to say, never be able to socialize and settle them down.
It sounds as if someone told you they were 'friendly' breeders, which is rarely the case.
Please give me more information about them, and your history with them. I'll be glad to help you, although you may really have to make some significant changes to help them
Andrea

quote-SoaringWings, "Would you say Caiques are unpredictable? How would you discribe them?

Yankee, my bh caique, is my first attempt at parronting a parrot larger than my 2 lovebirds. We have had a wonderful relationship since he arrived as a baby in October, but he is starting into "puberty" and I am having to learn how to read "birdy body language!" Yank is molting and cranky and I have had to take that into consideration while dealing with him. We are learning together and it is going very well. I just have to be more aware of him than I was before. In the 6+ months that I have had him, I have only been bitten twice and I should have been watching the second time.

I think that the caique is the BEST of all of the parrots and I will not get any other birds, partly because I can't do better than the best and also because he takes all of my spare time.

As far as I know my pair of Caiques have been living togeather in the same cage for several years as breeders. I bought them as breeders because I wanted to breed them. I still do. They have a big cage with lots of toys and a nest box which they both sleep in. I've now owned them for two weeks. The female is the one the breeder told me was tame and that you could pick up and play with. I know you cannot have breeders and pet birds at the same time. It's ether one or the other. So I figured she must be a sort of tame bird. But what I did not account for was how mean they really can be. People only told me all the good parts. I guess I forgot to ask about the bad because I was so exsited over getting them. All I know is he said he pulled babies from them about four weeks ago and that they might go to nest again in the next month or so. They seem to like thier cage and nest box. The female always want out of her cage just because I wont let her be out. She is a breeder not a pet. She got out once several days ago. I guess it was the day before I put the new toy in her cage. I was in the room when she opened up her door and excaped. I picked her up and put her back. However, as soon as she relized she was going back in her cage is when she puffed up and tried to bite me but missed. When she is out of her cage all she want to do is fight with anything that moves or doesn't move for that mater. She seems to get enjoyment out of getting her way and being bossy. I don't think she is scared, and I don't think it's because she doesn't like her cage. I think it's because she wants to boss everyone around by being territorial. Maybe she is getting ready to breed again and that's way she hates everyone? She spends a lot of time chewing up the inside of her nest box. But always comes out when she hears me in hopes of killing me.

It is very possible she is wanting to breed again, but I think you're going to find she may always be this way. I don't know of any breeders of caiques who say either of the birds are friendly, but especially not the female.

I guess the only thing I can suggest is to possibly talk specifically to a caique only breeder or MAP certified caique breeder for more information. I think someone told you she was tame when she is not. What you're describing as her behavior is typical female breeder personality.

I'm glad you got some helpful information. Yes, you are going to have to make sure the male gets his food, because the female won't care if he lives or not.
I hope things work out for you and your pair. I knew someone who thought they'd like to breed caiques, but once he tried to access the box, he sold them immediately because the female was a typical breeding girl.
They can be vicious as loved companions, so I know how they can be as just breeders.
Andrea

Have you tried letting just the male out to eat and drink by himself? Even if he won't let you touch him, he may come out and go back in on the stick. I would try it. You may end up with one tame caique or at least not vicious.