My caique

2 days ago I've got a 4 months old caique, the first day I got him was really cool to watch him and put him on my finger.
The next day I was sick but kept on interacting with him, there was a strong wind that day and there was a lot of dust everywhere, this made me think I had an allergy to the caique but then I realized really what was going on.
This day the caique didn't really like me interacting with him and I just felt the only thing I could do is put him on my finger and pet him, I felt like he was starting to get bored and he got really loud and I could barely do my homework, I was starting to feel I want to return him, I felt like he wasn't comfortable at all, and I found it boring just to put him on my finger, I didn't bring him anywhere really since he pooped every 15 minutes or so, today I still think of returning him, but I don't want him to leave at the same time, today he started kind of nibbling me, I just don't feel like we have a connection, what do I do?

(my computer crashed, so here we go again)

He, welcome and great you are reaching out.
Hmmmm, you sound like you got in a bit over your head.

Is this your first parrot?
Is this your first pet?

Yes, the pooping will remain this way- its fast birdymetabolism.

Before I will bombard you with "what to do" or even tell you "hmmm, you both might be beter off if you return the bird"...


How well prepared were you?
Some people get a bird "by accident" (impulsebuy or birthday-surprise-present), others spend years preparing for one en still find themselves overwhelmed.
Just trying to figure out where you are atm.

Did you read this one?
http://www.parrotforums.com/new-mem...-students-should-ask-before-getting-bird.html

Birds are a heap of fun, but about the neediest, demanding pets (if you may call a halfwild animal a pet) you can find.
The internet is great for cute and fun part of birdkeeping, but is really really quiet about 40-50 years of daily poopcleaning, cagecleaning, clothing replacement, damaged personal items, huge vetbills etc.etc.
(Thats is what we are here for- the downside is not that bad... if you have a parrot-mindset.)

We love to help, but it is up to you to decide if you really can make this enormous commitment.
It's like having a small child *every single day* for the next 40 or so years.

of course: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html
etc.etc. are a big help, but hollidays, sleeping in, hanging out with other people, sports etc.etc. will have to be sceduled around 'birdy-time'. That is just not do-able for a lot of people, no matter how much they want it.



You do not have to be in love with your bird (it helps) but I think it is a good moment to rethink what you got yourself and the bird into.

Caques are described as ADHD-birds: always lively, the attention-span of about 2 minutes max. and extremely needy of lots and lots and lots one-on-one time.
(The average for a parrot is 3 hours each day, every day)

If you decide to hang onto your little fellow, maybe get him a friend?
(also not easy...read those stickies first!!)

Welcome to the wonderful world of the parrots, you have definitely started your self off with a great parrot.

Very true to what Christa said, caiques are very ADHD ( having one myself i know) they are also very needy and very playful. I love my little girl to death and would not trade her for the world.

My say is that your little guy might need to warm up to you, having a new bird takes time to bond and form a connection.

I agree with Christa, with the poop machines they just never stop.
also it would be helpful if we knew if he is your first parrot and or what else have you owned.

I would ask from the point of a caique owner, have you got enough toys for him inside his cage and out?

how much time a day do you have for him?


Please dont lose hope in your new parrot so soon I'm sure many people here will be willing and very helpful to you. There are many people here from a caique owners point of view that will help. I can tell you now that, my caique was one of the best decisions in my life, she is snuggling in my neck as i type this.

Hope you find help on here

Hello, and welcome to Parrot Forums!

I'm going to be honest here. It would be one thing if you were feeling this way with a bird that was acting out against you. Vicious biting and such. Out of control behaviors like that can be overwhelming for someone new to parrots. But your biggest complaint seems to be that he bores you. After only two days.

It may just be that keeping parrots isn't for you. And that's okay. Not everyone is a "bird person". But if this is the case, re-homing him might be the best thing to do for all involved. I'd only ask that you do your best to set him up with a good home.

Wishing you and your bird the best no matter what you decide. (And if you do decide to keep him anyway, you've received some great advice, above.)

Breeze said:

Welcome to the wonderful world of the parrots, you have definitely started your self off with a great parrot.

Very true to what Christa said, caiques are very ADHD ( having one myself i know) they are also very needy and very playful. I love my little girl to death and would not trade her for the world.

My say is that your little guy might need to warm up to you, having a new bird takes time to bond and form a connection.

I agree with Christa, with the poop machines they just never stop.
also it would be helpful if we knew if he is your first parrot and or what else have you owned.

I would ask from the point of a caique owner, have you got enough toys for him inside his cage and out?

how much time a day do you have for him?


Please dont lose hope in your new parrot so soon I'm sure many people here will be willing and very helpful to you. There are many people here from a caique owners point of view that will help. I can tell you now that, my caique was one of the best decisions in my life, she is snuggling in my neck as i type this.

Hope you find help on here

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Hey yes this is my first parrot, I think things are getting better, I sang to it some songs today and it didnt want to get off my hand haha.

And also I only have a toy ladder for him, I was going to buy new toys sometime soon

Also note I was sick at that time so anything could really get on my nerve

When I tell my friends about life with my parrot, they all say it sounds like having a human baby/toddler (and these are friends with children of their own).

Imagine adopting a two-year-old, because that's honestly where scientists have placed the mental and emotional capacity for parrots. So you've just adopted a two-year-old human. They don't know who you are and why they're in a new place. They don't know why someone is touching them. They don't know how to react around you. You know how most toddlers still go for their parents when they're confused? Your little caique can't do that - he doesn't know who his family is, even if you feed him (and stranger can feed a child).

So this toddler basically got plucked from his home and locked in a strange place with a stranger. Now, imagine a toddler alone with just his cage and a big stranger. No toys to stimulate his mind (maybe he likes building blocks or matching shapes), nothing to stick in his mouth to explore. Just a big stranger who doesn't know him and whom he doesn't know. And have you seen a bored toddler? Have you seen a toddler who doesn't have the vocabulary yet to express what he wants and needs?

It takes time to develop a relationship with the toddler. And yes, there are going to be moments when the toddler is expressing something you might not be able to interpret just yet. It's growing pains.



That being said, let's talk about your expectations for your little caique. I met Cairo and fully accepted that he might not say a word and he might never, ever accept human touch. That's fine. It's just like adopting a toddler - you can't say, "Oh, give me a toddler that likes Legos and knows when to keep quiet and can have a mature conversation about what he needs and loves cuddles."

But that's good that you can't select these kinds of things. It means you have a little guy that's as unique as you are, with likes and dislikes, with personality quirks, with pet peeves and a deeper relationship to be had. But first, you have to be ok with the idea that your caique might forever be 'boring'. Because until you can accept that, maybe a cat or a dog might be better. I've had a rabbit, a horse, and a dog before, but they're nothing like the responsibility of a parrot.

One example: Right now, Cairo just went from growling at us (we had to rescue a cable tie from his mouth) to crying/screaming at me because he's starving from his big molt. And yes, most people comment that Cairo is actually an incredibly polite bird (but I think he only puts on that facade in front of strangers). But does that sort of loud, needy behaviour get on my nerves? No, I wrack my brain to think of what I'm doing wrong that's causing such behaviour. I should keep our desks clear better; I should have seen his early cues/signs that he was getting hungry again; etc.

We have another member on this forum. She's had her little guy for decades now. She'll admit that most people would have given up on him and his temperamental behaviour (including biting). But she's accepted him for who he is. Does anybody want a stubborn child that bites for decades of your life? No, but she adopted him and that's who he is.



Now, I'm going to assume of a lot this is poor phrasing or a generational difference (or I've been outta the US for way too long), but I think I will second Anansi. It's alright to be a dog person or a cat person instead of a bird person. (I'm definitely a dog person and 95% not a cat person).

But if you learn how to center your life around him (which is hard to do through life's ups and downs, especially during the milestones that occur between your teens and your twenties) - it'll be an incredibly rewarding few decades of your life. Remember, he didn't ask you come into your life - you brought him into your life. I always feel like, because of that simple fact, I owe it to Cairo to do what's right by him, my selfish desires aside.

charmedbyekkie said:

When I tell my friends about life with my parrot, they all say it sounds like having a human baby/toddler (and these are friends with children of their own).

Imagine adopting a two-year-old, because that's honestly where scientists have placed the mental and emotional capacity for parrots. So you've just adopted a two-year-old human. They don't know who you are and why they're in a new place. They don't know why someone is touching them. They don't know how to react around you. You know how most toddlers still go for their parents when they're confused? Your little caique can't do that - he doesn't know who his family is, even if you feed him (and stranger can feed a child).

So this toddler basically got plucked from his home and locked in a strange place with a stranger. Now, imagine a toddler alone with just his cage and a big stranger. No toys to stimulate his mind (maybe he likes building blocks or matching shapes), nothing to stick in his mouth to explore. Just a big stranger who doesn't know him and whom he doesn't know. And have you seen a bored toddler? Have you seen a toddler who doesn't have the vocabulary yet to express what he wants and needs?

It takes time to develop a relationship with the toddler. And yes, there are going to be moments when the toddler is expressing something you might not be able to interpret just yet. It's growing pains.



That being said, let's talk about your expectations for your little caique. I met Cairo and fully accepted that he might not say a word and he might never, ever accept human touch. That's fine. It's just like adopting a toddler - you can't say, "Oh, give me a toddler that likes Legos and knows when to keep quiet and can have a mature conversation about what he needs and loves cuddles."

But that's good that you can't select these kinds of things. It means you have a little guy that's as unique as you are, with likes and dislikes, with personality quirks, with pet peeves and a deeper relationship to be had. But first, you have to be ok with the idea that your caique might forever be 'boring'. Because until you can accept that, maybe a cat or a dog might be better. I've had a rabbit, a horse, and a dog before, but they're nothing like the responsibility of a parrot.

One example: Right now, Cairo just went from growling at us (we had to rescue a cable tie from his mouth) to crying/screaming at me because he's starving from his big molt. And yes, most people comment that Cairo is actually an incredibly polite bird (but I think he only puts on that facade in front of strangers). But does that sort of loud, needy behaviour get on my nerves? No, I wrack my brain to think of what I'm doing wrong that's causing such behaviour. I should keep our desks clear better; I should have seen his early cues/signs that he was getting hungry again; etc.

We have another member on this forum. She's had her little guy for decades now. She'll admit that most people would have given up on him and his temperamental behaviour (including biting). But she's accepted him for who he is. Does anybody want a stubborn child that bites for decades of your life? No, but she adopted him and that's who he is.



Now, I'm going to assume of a lot this is poor phrasing or a generational difference (or I've been outta the US for way too long), but I think I will second Anansi. It's alright to be a dog person or a cat person instead of a bird person. (I'm definitely a dog person and 95% not a cat person).

But if you learn how to center your life around him (which is hard to do through life's ups and downs, especially during the milestones that occur between your teens and your twenties) - it'll be an incredibly rewarding few decades of your life. Remember, he didn't ask you come into your life - you brought him into your life. I always feel like, because of that simple fact, I owe it to Cairo to do what's right by him, my selfish desires aside.

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Thank you so much, now I fully understand what is needed to be done, thank you.

if there are any other questions or troubles you are having please let us know! and it would be really great if you shared updates and pictures of you caique

Everyones pretty much covered everything important, but I def wanna say me and my beu Drew were pretty much where you are in october! we'd just adopted a 4 month old caique named Sgt. Nanners, a bird we didn't think we'd get until we were much older. we'd done research, and i'd worked with birds for years before. but as with most things research and experience are vastly different. (ie. i'd been researching german shepherds for 10 years before getting one and it was STILL an adventure full of surprises, difficulties, and rewareds!)

a lot of people describe caiques as clowns but i feel like its a little misleading, even though they are hilarious. honestly i describe them as Furbies running Cat software on a Dog hard drive. Like dogs they need training and a schedule, like cats...everything lol (sometimes grumpy, sometimes wanna be left alone, sometimes are super clingy and needy), and like furbies they will yammer on whether you want them to or not lol. having a bird is like caring for a child - certain diet, annual checkups, very expensive, and they require enrichment - toys and interaction.

initially you're both going to be adapting to each other, and imo the first like few weeks are where you're feeling everything out. but things do get better once you guys get a feel for each other! as for my own advice, definitely get a schedule going - when your birb is fed, goes to bed, played with etc - since schedules can help take a lot of the unpredictability out of everyday life which is very comforting.

the screaming might change, but as birds they'll always scream lol. ours used to scream all the time but we started teaching him new weird sounds and playing music for him. now he makes a lot of different noises and only really screams when he's bored, cranky, or wants something like food/attention. it's a lot easier now that we know him better to tell what he wants when he's screaming.

as for the poop thing, we had the same issue and it can be hard at first. we figured he poops every few minutes, so we'd bring him to his cage or somewhere we can clean poop easy and wait til he goes. we started attaching the word "boom" every time he pooped where we wanted and would give him a grape or high-value treat like a seed as a reward. we developed a morning poop ritual too lol. you can google potty training birds/caiques and find some cool info.

we got our boy in october and he was somewhat aloof and distant and so easily scared! in just 3 short months he's become our silly dink who can sometimes be a total jerk but he's our jerk and we love him! he's gotten so much more playful as he's gotten to know us and while he's not the "cuddly" type he is very happy to sit on shoulders and preen or just hang out.

caiques are super curious, high energy, and very beaky. they use their beaks for a lot of stuff and sometimes even when being playful they can bite pretty hard. you can redirect them to toys to help lessen this and teach them biting hurts people. we sometimes do time-out if Nanners is getting too rough (go in your cage and chew your toys son). he's still very bitey, but that's part of the breed. they can be very challenging and headstrong, stubborn and clever - Nanners learned that if he tips his water bowl, Drew will open the cage and he can sneak out...his water bowl gets tipped a lot lol. its kind of like a little adventure we're all having.

all in all, its easy to be intimidated by something new. it can be easy to look at everything like if things are difficult or not going 100% right that something is wrong. but its just a transition point. its a learning experience.

definitely though, you should familiarize yourself with molting and hormonal periods. i hate being a downer, but you do have a baby bird. ours is going through his molt so sometimes he's a bit more cranky than usual. we haven't gone through it yet, but hormonal periods can be especially challenging with birds. some go through with a breeze, but some not so much so definitely familiarize and prepare yourself for that!

someone above mentioned possibly getting a second bird as a friend? definitely read up on that, as caiques can be very bird aggressive. not all of them, but its not always good to look at exceptions when dealing with a new pet.

this is a great forum though! so definitely feel free to ask questions and all these cool people will be happy to share all the info they've gathered over the years of birb partnership!