Caique Biting

I have already posted this in "Behavior" though I was hoping others with caiques could help me, maybe it's a caique thing?
This is what I have written
"Meeko my 6 year old caique is notorious for deciding he doesn't like you anymore, he takes a turn for people he is usually fine with and starts attacking them and never lets them touch him again.
I've always ignored it because he's my bird and him not liking others isn't really relevant to me.
Though the past three days I have been trying to work with him but every time I take him out him lunges and bites me, he's bitten my 5 times all over my hands breaking skin each time, it's a very aggressive bite each time.
I'm not sure on what I should do now. Once he decides he doesn't like someone he completely cuts them out and continues to hate them.
Should I start learning to deal with him with out touching? Or are there things I could do?
Please help, thanks."

I have been working with him but he seems like hes ok and then gets really aggressive and starts biting me and everything around him, though he still targets me. He hasn't been screaming lately either, very quiet and he has been humping the rope and some toys in his cage, but he does do it occasionally and hasn't been doing it any more or less.
I've never been through this with him before and I don't want to have to find someone else to look after him because he still lets other people touch him, just not me.
Thanks

I pretty much made all my suggestions already, but...

Good luck! Good for you, for hanging in there!

The poor little guy is frustrated, I think. If you had a little lady for him I reckon he would improve, though he might then become protective.

I am a passionate believer in the birds having mates, especially if they live a long time. It is abnormal for them to be alone, and that is refected by their behaviour. Every one of our parrots has improved in temperament once a mate was introduced. People say not to because the bird wont be as close to the owner, but I think that is selfish and to some extent baseless, as my experience has been that not having the birds pine for me has lessened the pressure and obligation to keep them amused.

I have a pair of black headed caiques. The male has taken a terrible dislike to my daughter, I think because she often would take the hen away to play with her. I havent figured out how to improve that situation. With your guy, I'd just use a stick and let him hop up on that instead of your hand. I appreciate that they have very sharp beaks, with a point like a nail. Our hen bites in fun and it really hurts.

BruceTheQuail said:

The poor little guy is frustrated, I think. If you had a little lady for him I reckon he would improve, though he might then become protective.

I am a passionate believer in the birds having mates, especially if they live a long time. It is abnormal for them to be alone, and that is refected by their behaviour. Every one of our parrots has improved in temperament once a mate was introduced. People say not to because the bird wont be as close to the owner, but I think that is selfish and to some extent baseless, as my experience has been that not having the birds pine for me has lessened the pressure and obligation to keep them amused.

I have a pair of black headed caiques. The male has taken a terrible dislike to my daughter, I think because she often would take the hen away to play with her. I havent figured out how to improve that situation. With your guy, I'd just use a stick and let him hop up on that instead of your hand. I appreciate that they have very sharp beaks, with a point like a nail. Our hen bites in fun and it really hurts.

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I totally agree, Meeko should have another bird with him. Though when introducing another to him he attacks. But i have never introduced another caique, only a conure, a ringneck, and cockateil. I have been checking local rescues to see if they have gotten any caiques because I would love to him to have a friend, besides from me, though he's decided I'm not a friend I will try using another perch to hold him, I have been wrapping him in a towel to move him. I also thought Meeko was only biting in fun and it got ugly quickly.
Thank you for your advice.

GaleriaGila said:

I pretty much made all my suggestions already, but...

Good luck! Good for you, for hanging in there!

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Thank you, you're too nice! I won't stop working, trying to make his life a little less stressful.

Unfortunately Caiques are known to be aggressive with other species. Our little male Topper will have a go at our lovebirds and the male eckie, though he hasnt taken his chances with the much bigger female eckie, which shows that he has some common sense. They cant be let out with other species at the same time and in fact we cant really let the caiques out even around the other bird cages. But when I introduced him to our caique hen Akeela, it was love at first sight. Normally I give them a month apart but they were glued to the sides of their cages to be close to each other within 10 minutes, and when I threw caution to the wind (I'm better at giving advice than following it) and let them out together, they were preening each other within minutes. I think your chances are better with a little caique-ette, though I have heard of hens bossing the boys around. Probably try to find one that is a little younger than him.

11 caiques. Average age 4 years. One bite, which I got when I grabbed a hen in the dark. So it was entirely my fault.

If your bird bites when you 'take him out' then stop taking him out (against his will). Invite him out to play. Make it fun and he will accept, without biting.

Bribery works with caiques

LOL @ Bribe comment. That is true for the majority of parrot species. I know Salty would not do 1/4 of the tricks I have taught him with out significant bribes of FOOD ( for him its pine nuts). SO the above suggestion is likely the best one. Don't take him out when you want to play with him, Take him out when HE wants to come out. You can try bribing him to come out, there is no shame in that.

Plus it sounds like he is in full, raging throes of puberty (sexual maturity) , for the first time, which is the worst . Keep his sleep schedule regular, 12 hrs a day , avoid soft warm mushy foods, don't scratch him anywhere but his head. And hang in there - this too will pass ( until next year, around mating season ). You did want a parrot = wild animal, to share your life, right?

Irishj9 said:

11 caiques. Average age 4 years. One bite, which I got when I grabbed a hen in the dark. So it was entirely my fault.

If your bird bites when you 'take him out' then stop taking him out (against his will). Invite him out to play. Make it fun and he will accept, without biting.

Bribery works with caiques

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I do take him out against his will, so I'll start doing that, I didn't even think of it. Thank you, hopefully this well help!

wrench13 said:

LOL @ Bribe comment. That is true for the majority of parrot species. I know Salty would not do 1/4 of the tricks I have taught him with out significant bribes of FOOD ( for him its pine nuts). SO the above suggestion is likely the best one. Don't take him out when you want to play with him, Take him out when HE wants to come out. You can try bribing him to come out, there is no shame in that.

Plus it sounds like he is in full, raging throes of puberty (sexual maturity) , for the first time, which is the worst . Keep his sleep schedule regular, 12 hrs a day , avoid soft warm mushy foods, don't scratch him anywhere but his head. And hang in there - this too will pass ( until next year, around mating season ). You did want a parrot = wild animal, to share your life, right?

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I will try the bribing, he will run out for some wheat grass seeds. I just started the new schedule for him so hopefully that will assist him. Thank you for your advice, and yes! Meeko is my life lol

BruceTheQuail said:

Unfortunately Caiques are known to be aggressive with other species. Our little male Topper will have a go at our lovebirds and the male eckie, though he hasnt taken his chances with the much bigger female eckie, which shows that he has some common sense. They cant be let out with other species at the same time and in fact we cant really let the caiques out even around the other bird cages. But when I introduced him to our caique hen Akeela, it was love at first sight. Normally I give them a month apart but they were glued to the sides of their cages to be close to each other within 10 minutes, and when I threw caution to the wind (I'm better at giving advice than following it) and let them out together, they were preening each other within minutes. I think your chances are better with a little caique-ette, though I have heard of hens bossing the boys around. Probably try to find one that is a little younger than him.

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That brings me hope! Though do they actually try mating? How would I handle that if I got another who is a girl?
Thank you, making me feel a lot better!

I have 4 Caiques.They are unfortunately head strong moody little things.When I take mine out I don't make them be with me.I put them on a playstand first then see if their interested in seeing me.Remember if their biting or nipping. Your doing something they don't want you too.Watch their body language,slow your energy around them.

Pinkbirdy said:

I have 4 Caiques.They are unfortunately head strong moody little things.When I take mine out I don't make them be with me.I put them on a playstand first then see if their interested in seeing me.Remember if their biting or nipping. Your doing something they don't want you too.Watch their body language,slow your energy around them.

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I have but putting him aside when I take him out, and staying super calm is definitely helping, I haven't figured out what I'm doing wrong to make him upset when I hold him but I'm sure I'll learn soon. But 4 caiques! I don't think I could function lol