Jules doesn't hop

Hello everybody! This is my first post on the forum. Jules the white bellied caique is about 10 months old, and may be the best bird ever for me. Totally friendly, plays, loves strangers, etc. . . For the most part he is everything everyone says about what caiques should be, endless energy, plays on his back, loves wrestling, thoroughly loyal, cute, etc. . . .

But he doesn't hop. Not one hop. I've been told that it is a natural behaviour for caiques. In fact we are trusting enough together that I can grab him and "bounce" him around to mimic a hop and he doesn't seem to mind in any way.

Does the behaviour develop later in life? Or is my bird "defective"? (I don't mean that literally).

Do I need to train the hop into him? Or wait patiently for it to happen. . . .

BTW, he has a bald spot on his head where feathers will just not grow. (the baby black spots are all gone now, and his head is all orange.) but the bald spot persists, not that this tidbit has anything to do with the original question, I just thought it would add to Jules' irresistible character.

Oh I feel your pain!. I have 11 caiques and only one hops consistently. This one will hop on cue ( when he is in the mood lol)

And THAT appears to be the trick. You have to get him excited, wait for the hop, then praise and reward lavishly.

Even my hopper is at his best JUST AFTER BEING LET OUT FOR EXERCISE. He cant control his excitement and breaks out hopping.

Good luck!

Heya! Welcome to our little corner of the forums! And I love your choice of screen name. Well, unless, of course, that's your real name; in which case, I humbly bow before your supreme awesomeness.

In any event, yes: Jules is defective. Is he still under warranty? You should be able to get him repaired for free...

Seriously, I don't think you have a thing to worry about. I have two: Eliza (BHC) and Henry (WBC). Eliza doesn't display any of the behaviors I've seen associated with caiques (hopping and hair-surfing, for example). Henry hops, and he lives to hair-surf. It's a dark day on his calendar when I come home from a haircut.

As Irishj9 says, when Jules does hop, just shower him with praise (and a treat, of course). It doesn't take long for a caique to catch on!

Once again, welcome. Caiques really are amazing little birds, aren't they?
Derek

Hello and Welcome to the forum! Glad you joined us! Enjoy your stay!

I have a male wbc just over 2 years old and he doesnt do it either!

For the record Pixie doesn't hop either unless randomly while playing.

They seem to like hopping more if they're on a soft surface like a bed or plush carpeting. It's a lot easier to hop than to run/waddle!!
OR your bird could be defective, hope you kept the original packaging. LOL

Actually that's a very good point about soft surfaces. Boo-Boo hops best on the bed

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

whoa i can't handle my bird the way you do.. he bites! lol he only wants to be touched on the head

caiques are so cute! i love the white belly...

Irishj9 said:

Actually that's a very good point about soft surfaces. Boo-Boo hops best on the bed

BOOBOO hopping on cue - YouTube

Click to expand...

LOVE this video!