new caique

So we bought a baby caique from a breeder, he was very well known and loved. We spent alot of time with our new friend from just a few weeks old till we brought him home yesterday. We brought him home, put him in his new cage and left him be, I noticed by early afternoon he had not eaten any of his mix we bought from the breeder, he also started this high pitch scream cry almost like he was calling for other bird, I thought he was hungery and maybe not fully weaned as they thought, so I went and bought every fruit and veggie allowed to birds and gave him a plate with about 20 different things on it. He finally stopped screaming around 7pm and went to sleep, he slept all night and over night must have eaten half his plate of food. But 9 am this morning he started screaming again. He is not hurt or sick, he just screams, he has never done this I called the breeder and let him listen and he has never heard him do this either. I am trying to ignore it, he does it even when being held and he loves being held. The screaming is to much and I had to move his cage to a room alone and shut the door, he has not screamed since I put him in that room, not sure if he is scared in their and thats why he is not screaming yet? We have 5 kids BUT our house is very quiet I can not handle chaos so my kids have been raised to not be crazy and loud. Everyone has given the bird lots of space while acknowledging his presence with normal speaking voices, but nothing helps. Please tell me this is a phase or its not going to work out! We work from home so the bird will be alone hardly ever, I just need some support!

He is doing his baby begging call . It sounds like hes regressed a little coming to his new home [DONT IGNORE HIM}. I had a sunconure do this to me . I hand fed in the morning ,afterwork and before bed [and offered food.] Eventually she refused the formula . You may have to figure this out . Hand feeding is serious stuff .Read everything and take your time . Be very careful of the temperature. You may not have to do it long . But im pretty sure this is the answer. I don't understand why your breeder isn't offering this info.

There is no way I am hand feeding this bird, I paid way to much money for a fully weaned bird. I am going to take it back to the breeder tomorrow for another week or so. I can not handle the screaming its non stop, if he sees anyone he goes baserk. Thanks for the reply

That's too bad. I know the more reputable breeders I've had experience with will all keep the baby a bit longer after weaning so there will be absolutely no doubt they're ready to go. I'd definitely tell the breeder and see if he can take the bird back until it's REALLY ready to go. It's his responsibility to do so. Good luck. Let us know what happens!

Edit: I like your attitude about realizing it's the breeder who needs to finish their job after asking you to pay top dollar for a weaned baby. You shouldn't have to be in this position, and it irks me to see so many people inexperienced in handfeeding who are put in this position by breeders who either don't know any better (in which case they should learn quick if they're selling babies to the public for money) or else they don't care which is sad to say the least.

Caiques can take a long time to fully ween (sometimes 4+mos) and many babies (of any breed) regress a bit when they are brought home.. When hand feeding is mentioned it's just making some formula and letting him take if from a spoon..
It's warm and comforting for them and helps create a bond between you two.
It IS a phase and will pass but if it's really that grating on you, perhaps it would be best for all to return him.

I've never had a baby regress. I guess I got them when they were WELL old enough...

Birds do regress

Pinkbirdy said:

Birds do regress

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I'm not denying that. I was stating that the birds I have personally gotten as juveniles did not display OVERT enough behavior to CHANGE how I had to deal with things.

I was going to suggest to try feeding warmed up mushy foods..... mashed sweet potatoes, apple sauce, bananas, steamed carrots, etc. Make some warm food and feed to the baby and that may help the baby feel more comfortable.

My breeder actually gave me a bag of the baby food with the preparation instructions (I use my daughter's thermometer to check the temp) and recommended that for the first 3 - 4 weeks of transition, offer a few pippets full every evening just to make sure he's getting fed properly while he stabilizes in his new environment. He actually showed me how to prepare it and feed Tango properly before leaving with him. Tango takes maybe 1 pippet and then refuses... I'll probably stop giving it to him next week. He is 4 months and 1 week old.

You might also want to look around the room he is agitated and screaming in, perhaps there is something in there that is scaring him?? Is he near a window with birds, cats, rabbits and squirrels outside? Try covering one or two sides of his cage with a towel so he has some safe private area (sounds silly, but it can make a difference) Mirrors or moving lights from cut glass shade dangles?? Again, silly but there's a lot of things that can scare a baby in a new home.
Glasses?? Hats?? Certain bright colors worn?? I've had some birds get agitated when I wear hats or sunglasses. My Wife was constantly being bitten by our Triton when she wore a tie dyed shirt until she figured it out!!

Hope it works out for you and the little guy, just remember he's not a puppy, he's an undomesticated baby and needs to be given time to fit in with your family.

punkindave said:

You might also want to look around the room he is agitated and screaming in, perhaps there is something in there that is scaring him?? Is he near a window with birds, cats, rabbits and squirrels outside? Try covering one or two sides of his cage with a towel so he has some safe private area (sounds silly, but it can make a difference) Mirrors or moving lights from cut glass shade dangles?? Again, silly but there's a lot of things that can scare a baby in a new home.
Glasses?? Hats?? Certain bright colors worn?? I've had some birds get agitated when I wear hats or sunglasses. My Wife was constantly being bitten by our Triton when she wore a tie dyed shirt until she figured it out!!

Hope it works out for you and the little guy, just remember he's not a puppy, he's an undomesticated baby and needs to be given time to fit in with your family.

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I actually noticed that Tango seems to wonder who the heck I am (but still jumps on my finger nonetheless) when I'm not wearing my glasses. You can see it in his eyes... *Who the heck is this imposter?? I don't trust this tall person, he looks like he wants to... OOOOO FINGER PERCH!*

Dan

DanR said:

I actually noticed that Tango seems to wonder who the heck I am (but still jumps on my finger nonetheless) when I'm not wearing my glasses. You can see it in his eyes... *Who the heck is this imposter?? I don't trust this tall person, he looks like he wants to... OOOOO FINGER PERCH!*

Dan

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Ooooo, finger perch!! Oooo, shoulder that's higher!! Oooo, peanut!! Oooo, big bird NOT being chased by me!! Oooo, wonder what kind of numnums Rascal has in his cage!! Oooo, I hear daddy has a bacon!!

punkindave said:

DanR said:

I actually noticed that Tango seems to wonder who the heck I am (but still jumps on my finger nonetheless) when I'm not wearing my glasses. You can see it in his eyes... *Who the heck is this imposter?? I don't trust this tall person, he looks like he wants to... OOOOO FINGER PERCH!*

Dan

Click to expand...

Ooooo, finger perch!! Oooo, shoulder that's higher!! Oooo, peanut!! Oooo, big bird NOT being chased by me!! Oooo, wonder what kind of numnums Rascal has in his cage!! Oooo, I hear daddy has a bacon!!

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hahah my coworkers must be wondering why I'm cracking up so hard in my office right now LOL

DanR said:

punkindave said:

DanR said:

I actually noticed that Tango seems to wonder who the heck I am (but still jumps on my finger nonetheless) when I'm not wearing my glasses. You can see it in his eyes... *Who the heck is this imposter?? I don't trust this tall person, he looks like he wants to... OOOOO FINGER PERCH!*

Dan

Click to expand...

Ooooo, finger perch!! Oooo, shoulder that's higher!! Oooo, peanut!! Oooo, big bird NOT being chased by me!! Oooo, wonder what kind of numnums Rascal has in his cage!! Oooo, I hear daddy has a bacon!!

Click to expand...

hahah my coworkers must be wondering why I'm cracking up so hard in my office right now LOL

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You might want to look at another Caique.. They ARE like potato chips and most times they get along just fine with each other!

Ours have been known to be aggressive to the other birds and we have to watch them when they're out together. A Caique doesn't need a reason to take an instant dislike to another person or bird. One of mine has gone after our Triton Too (thankfully he was caged at the time)!! Two of them will chase and terrorize our CAG (it's become a fun game of "air superiority" for them both now that they are all fully flighted!)
They can be scrappy 30# birds!!

Regression is not really about not being fully weaned. The baby is unsure of the new environment and is looking for comfort. He doesn't NEED the formula, he's just looking for the nurturing that comes with it. It's possible that even if you bring him back to the breeder for a while and then take him home again, the same behavior will begin again. I would just offer formula for a few days until he adjusts.

punkindave said:

DanR said:

punkindave said:

Ooooo, finger perch!! Oooo, shoulder that's higher!! Oooo, peanut!! Oooo, big bird NOT being chased by me!! Oooo, wonder what kind of numnums Rascal has in his cage!! Oooo, I hear daddy has a bacon!!

Click to expand...

hahah my coworkers must be wondering why I'm cracking up so hard in my office right now LOL

Click to expand...

You might want to look at another Caique.. They ARE like potato chips and most times they get along just fine with each other!

Click to expand...

*puts a finger in each ear*

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