[Pies Mom]

Hi Everyone!

I have always wanted to get a black capped caique, but have had difficulty finding one - Finally after all my waiting I found a breeder who has some, and will be getting a beautiful little baby in about 3 weeks! I'm so excited! I went out and purchased a cage today, and can't wait to get it all set up!

For those of you with caiques - do you keep their wings clipped? I left Pie fully flighted, but she generally stays out of trouble and only flies (poorly) if spooked so it is not a problem. However, caiques are a bit more mischevious and I wonder if it would be better to keep it clipped. Is it ok to have one clipped and not the other? I have read that caiques are relatively aggressive to other birds, so it is unlikely they would even be out at the same time.

Thanks!
Brittany

[Andie's Mom]

I have a black capped Caique and his wings are not clipped, they are fairly poor fliers as they hop around in the canopies of the trees in the wild...

I don't know that I would let them actually play together unsupervised...and that means right there every second because the caique is a much stronger bird than a quaker and what they consider playing is much more physical than what a quaker would do...

I have actually seen first hand what can happen to a quaker if they are left alone and I can tell you the quaker was definitely on the losing end. His upper beak was totally torn off...Luckily it did grow back, but it did happen. It was a case where the caique was able to get out of her cage and open the cage of the quaker and went in to investigate the food dish; the quaker being territorial of his digs probably put up a fuss and didn't fare as well.

Other than that, Caiques are great little birds...You are so going to love their antics and how big of clown they really are. They love foot toys, so stock up on small toys that are strong...My Simon's favorite toys are water bottle or pop bottle caps...or Milk carton caps etc. and he also LOVES the puzzle treasure chest that has little wooden blocks that go through different shaped holes.

They have a high pitched squeal that can be like fingernails on a chalk board, but they are very smart and can learn to talk although not as easily understood as a quaker, Mine LOVES to whistle differnt tunes and has a pretty decent vocabulary for a caique.

I would also advise to purchase a moderately large cage for it but make sure it has narrow spaced bars and that they are heavy guaged...Caiques are strong and can easily break a weld on a lighter weight cage. I have my guy in a 22 x 26 x 38 inch cage and he uses every inch of it all day every day. And I'm sure that if I had a bigger cage for him he would use it as well. They also spend a lot of time on the bottom of their cage on their backs sliding back and forth while playing with their toys with their feet.

Several others here on the forum have Caiques and I'm sure they'll be along to give you their take on what great little birds these guys are. And one word of advise...Socialize, Socialize, Socialize! The more people you can get to handle him and play with him the better he'll be.

[kate]

I have 2. One black capped and one white bellied. Mine are not clipped. There doesnt seem to be a need for it. If you go to some of the caique forums you will see that it is pretty common to not clip them. But NEVER clip just one wing on any bird.

[jobo2mi]

I too have a BHC .. I love him to pieces ... he is soooooo funny .. very active, and very curious ... Timber doesn't talk, but he whistles and he does say what sounds like Woot Woo .. usually as he stickes his head down my shirt He is becoming able to fly right now, but he is a poor flier and sounds like a helicopter when he goes .... wwwwhhhiiirrrr ... I just haven't taken the time to try to clip him ... don't know how he will handle it, and if he doesnt like me doing it, I'd really like to keep my fingers attached to the rest of my hand!!

He loves to play, and he is a hair dresser as well as a shoe shine bird ... I can tell when he gets down and walks around on the floor as I'll feel him surfing on my shoes ... which he is doing as I type this :LOL


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You will have a ball with him .... as Connie said, make sure you have a large cage for him ... he will use every inch of it, and then some We want pictures when you get him home !!!