How to Care for a Caique Parrot
Hailing from the deep forests of South America, Caiques prefer to live along rivers in the wild. Unlike other parrots, Caiques do not form social structures and live in loosely-connected flocks. They eat mostly buds of various flowers, berries and nuts. Though not as ubiquitous as other Amazon parrots, Caiques are slowly making their way onto the market as more people are falling in love with them.
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Instructions
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Identify the two species of Caiques: the Black-Headed Caique and the White-Bellied Caique. The former has a black beak, yellow cheeks and thighs, an orange patch on the back of his head, a white belly and green wings. The latter has a yellow head (sometimes with an orange top), a bone-colored beak, green wings and a white belly. Note that there is no difference in intelligence or personality; although the White-Bellied Caique tends to be more expensive--it is due to its harder-to-find status.
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Find a cage that is at least two feet high, two feet across and 1.5 feet deep. Though they are not big birds, they are extremely active and need durable toys that larger parrots would play with. They should be let out of their cage daily for exercise.
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3
Avoid buying a seed mix with sunflower seeds. Caiques are known to love these seeds and will only eat these in the mix. Buy a seed without them and every week, offer the bird a few for a treat. Supplement the mix with fresh small pieces of fruit and vegetables daily such as red apples, broccoli, banana and lettuce.
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Set ground rules from the beginning, and let your bird know what is not acceptable by simply, firmly saying "No." Caiques are quite willful, and will whistle (and sometimes screech) to get your attention. If nothing else works, cover the bird's cage for a few minutes, and he or she will learn that screaming will not get him or her what she wants. Never yell back at your bird, or use physical threats.
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Be aware that Caiques are not the best talkers. They make loving, affectionate companions, but if you want a guaranteed talker, try another species of parrot.
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Tips & Warnings
Caiques are not the best fliers, and get winded easily, so if you decide to clip their wings, you do not need to cut all the flight feathers.
For some reason, Caiques are drawn to human hair, and will want to "nest" and play in yours if given the chance.
Always wash produce before giving it to your Caique.
