Caique attacks/bites

Hi guys,

I am just after some advice. I have a 12 year old black headed caique called Charlie (female) who I have had for about 2 years or so now.

Up until about a month ago biting and attacking has never been an issue. Charlie has only ever bitten one other person, which is my sister (my sister has never done anything wrong to the bird, the bird just took an instant dislike to my sister!).

Charlie is my bird, but comes out the cage a couple of times a day for an hour or so at a time. And I have never had any issues of her biting or attacking me. But recently whenever she has been out the cage for a while, and when she is off interacting with family she keeps biting me (sometimes flying to me to bite me) and we aren't talking a playful nip, we are talking proper bites and she draws blood every time. I think it may be because she thinks I might be putting her back into the cage, or stopping her interacting with other people as I know caiques like to socialise with lots of different people.

She isn't stick trained or anything, or at least doesn't seem to be, I was told she was, but every time a stick goes near her she flies away!

Every time she bites me I put her back into her cage and cover it up with a blanket. But she still keeps biting me and I don't know what to do!

Thanks and any advice/helpful tips are much appreciated.

Emma

This is a hormonal time for many parrots and assuming that's what's going on with Charlie, she may be looking at you as her mate and when she's biting you with other people around, she may be trying to get you away from them to protect you.....

As to the training, training with birds is not like riding a bicycle, something that once you learn it you don't forget it, if it was something Charlie really enjoyed, she might remember it, but normally training needs to be continued on a regular basis.....

Good luck with your new training or re-training sessions.....

So is there any advice you would give to stop the biting? Like when I get bitten time out somewhere?

Well I don't think she was ever stick trained. So would you recommend trying to start now?

Just would like other peoples opinions.

Sorry, have never owned a caique, but my conures don't like to be ignored and they are very aware when I am upset with them and put them back in their cage, ignoring their pleas.....

Though I can't speak to caiques, here are some links you might find helpful: Caique Behavior and Training

Caique Parrots | Training Caique Parrots

The Caique Parrot Is A Very Fun Pet


Good luck.....

When we brought mr.big home we had the same issue...we thought we were causing the bad behaviour so we consulted with our avian vet and they mentioned that caiques are very dominating and suggested having mr.bigs wings clipped. It would then make us the dominant species again or at least give us a bit more control as to where he goes and what he does. We saw an instant change in attitude. He was kinder and more gentle. He stopped biting for nothing. And they grow back within 6 months

Thanks steph....

Can I also say mr big is a brilliant name for a caique!

So you only got his wings clipped once and the biting has stopped? May I ask how long they've been grown back for?

Emma

Thanks! This is the second time we clipped them, they take 6 months to grow back but we just reclipped them as his behavior when he can fly is almost unmanageable! !! Ill tell u a bit about him just so you know the scenario lol me and my boyfriend work all day and are hone around 4...so from 4pm to 11 pm he stays out of his cage with us...while were cooking, making our lunches, eating, doing laundry or just watching tv hes alwsys with us. So when his wings are clipped we can do all these things together without stress... if he can fly, while we cook he flies to where we are preparing food and tries to eat it, knocks things over, flies to where the laundry detergent is and tries to drink it or bathe in it lol changes rooms without us to get into trouble!! You cant include him in things because he just has his own agenda and many other things to do when he should be participating in our activities...the clipped wings are also amazing in the summer as he comes with us mostly everywhere we go and he doesnt need a harnest he very much appreciates the freedom!

Caiques are very active birds ( I have 11)

Nobirdy bites me.

Keep them active, teach them tricks, give them things to chew. Your relationship with your bird will improve in leaps and bounds.

Here is BooBoo after one week in the house, hopping on cue. You must work at these relationships.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDX1fdlavxw"]BOOBOO hopping on cue - YouTube[/ame]

Charlie has so many toys, lots to bite, swing on and chew. She also has a stand that she plays on when out the cage with toys too. The biting is only a recent thing, she has had a "play" bite for as long as I've had her but the serious bites are a recent development, in the last month or so

She could be at the age where she's maturing and going through hormones?