upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Helloo everyone:) im new here, and have been researching caiques for about 4 months now. i had a pet budgie since i was like 5, and she died about a year ago. i wanted a bit bigger of a bird this time, so i was looking into the caique, and they seem like wonderful birds. I do have quite a few questions tho. Is a cage thats 32'' wide big enough? i no that the minimum requirements for them is 24'', but alot of ppl tell me that this is not nearly big enough, so i was wondering about the 32. Also, how easy are they to train? I no that they need a firm hand in training, but i was wondering if they usually catch on pretty quickly. And, are they good with kids? i do have sisters that are 8 and 5 so i need to take this into consideration. And my last question, what name brand products should i avoid in using? i found a bunch stuff on the net about aerosol sprays and teflon, but is there any unlisted product that causes a safety concern? im still researching them, but i have found a breeder and an avian certified vet very close to where i live. soo, if anyone has any advise really about anything regarding caiques, it would be very much appreciated!!

lexy

This forum's regulars seem to be on summer vacation, so you might need to post your questions in other places as well. Here are some sites that discuss hazards.

http://www.exoticbird.com/gillian/holiday.html
http://exoticpetvet.net/avian/topten.html#Fumes
http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/teflon4.htm

Caiques are a very energetic parrot and, as such, can be a handful. That means they can get quite bitey, so don't presume your sibs will be able to handle one, or any parrot, for that matter. Just like people, each has his or her own personality and forms relationships based on whom they like rather than who likes them. This can get very frustrating. Imagine if your bird decided her best friend is your sib. It could happen.

I would not recommend a parrot for someone who's not yet an adult. JMO, so obviously you can do what you want with the information, but my concern is that you'll have a lot of different interests in the next 5-10 years, and the bird could quickly feel neglected and develop behavioral issues such as screaming for attention. I think you'd be wiser to adopt a dog.

32 is just fine as far as width goes Just make sure it is also at least 24 deep and 36 high. Blue made a couple excellent points. Our boy Cisco is an absolute handful at age 1.5. He is VERY high energy and can try even the most patient person. No one really knows what people any birds will take to. We are lucky in that Cisco seems to enjoy both our company - although he is really in love with his mom. I'm more the companion play person. They are smart birds and can be trained to do tricks and what not but they are also very stubborn and strong willed. You really have to know what you are doing to teach them things. Cisco poops on command and tells us when he has to go. He flips on his play bar on command and I can toss him up and down in my hand while he lays on his back.

Caiques are a great choice in a bird but please go back through all of the posts on this board and read. They are most definitely NOT for an amateur birds keeper and they live a long time. Make SURE that you know what you are getting your self in to before making a commitment to a bird such as this.

Freddy

Lexy,
I agreewth what the others say too. Don't take this decision lightly.

I hate to say this but just warning you. Caiques are way more work than a budgie, require more time and way more cleaning. Sounds like your young, maybe teen. I'm young too and after two years of researching, got a caique a white bellied baby from an excellent breeder. she was a handful, great little bird, but my dog hated her. for her own safety, I gave her away while she was still young. Please consider other pets you hasve before bringing a bigger bird in your home. I didn't tell others about my dog because I thought I could train her. Well, I should have trained her before I brought CoCo home.

Everyone warned me too of the time commitment. I brushed it off saying i'd NEVER be one of those girls who does the "boy" thing or friends, cause I'm an animal lover and thought I'd always have time. but the next 20 years of your life are gonna be really busy like mine. I finally realized this after I had gotten her. she was the perfect parrot, not nippy or beaky at all(which is unusual for a caique parrot) quiet, loving, so I felt I had to make an unselfish decision.

And think about college. Are your parents and sisters willing to take care of the bird? Its quite unfair to have this bird be really only bonded to you, so you'd have to make an effort to bond it to others. And caiques are way more expensive than a parakeet. Don't get me wrong, they deserve attention and care too, but I took my bird to a great bird vet and paid 500 dollars just to make sure my parrot was healthy. I saved years for her. Money goes quick and now I'm out about 2500.

and caiuqes need attention. They love it so much. They are NOT birds to just stay on a playstand while you do your homework. They will get into stuff and have to be supervised. Found that out the hard way:)

Now with the little sisters. Caiques can sometimes be unpredictable, of course you will learn to read body language. But they are generally beaky birds and will reach out for your hand with their beak to step onto you.

you have the rest of your life just like me. I was so blind to the truth i had to go throught the heartache and I'd hate for anyone to have gone what I went through. Now if you truly love birds like I do, God will plant the appropriate people and things in your life. Just a month before I got Coco, a brand new wonderful bird store opened up. I will now start working there. Working there can't comapre to owning a bird but god told me to slow down and who knows, perhaps a parrot is waiting there for me.

Please consider what i've said. I spent weeks crying over my bird. Maybe not getting a bird right now, or volunteering to work some where with birds is a better idea. Of course, if your whole family is willing, a parrot may be ok, maybe not a caique. Consider maybe another budgie or two males to keep each other company while you are gone and your sisters at school. Or go to as bird store and just look at the birds.

So many things are bad for birds, alot out there is opinion, too. Nonstick not just teflon, is awful, can kill a bird in minutes. Nonstick can be on irons, ovens, cookware, hairdryers. anything with a smaell is not goo, candles, bleach, perfume ,smelly lotions. Beware of uncovered windows, birds fly into them. Not to mention having the bird out when you cook. It only takes two seconds for birdie to become birdie soup. Generally anything you clean with is bad. i used vinegar and opened windows and have birdie in a different room when cleaning.

I also recommend a dog. It may be hard and you may really really want another bird, but you must do what is best for that future bird. Please read up, birds for dummies is good, parrot problem solver, birdtalk, and such. I have sooooo many parrot books, but reading the books and not taking what is said literally(don't think you are the exception) about the time commitment.

so many people warned me and I ignored it. do not ignore this. Take it seriously please, for your sake. Now i'm out 2500, no bird, and my heart is torn. Forgive me, but I'm saying to you what I wish I would have actually listened too from others.