CAPTIVATING CLOWNS

The caique (pronounced ka-eek) is a medium-size parrot comparable in measurement to the sun conure, though the caique is stockier and has a shorter, more blunt tail. The caique is quickly becoming as sought after as the other birds in the same size and price range and may even surpass them in the coming years.

Caiques are great family birds, able to find companionship with many members of the household, unlike some other popular birds, which often become bonded to only one person in the home. Most of your customers will not recognize this little bird, and as a result, it can cause quite a stir.

The black-headed caique (Pionites melanocephala) and the white-bellied caique (Pionites leucogaster) are the two most commonly bred caiques in this country. Originally from South America, this bird is becoming more prevalent due to its growing availability from breeders. The yellow-thighed caique, a subspecies of the white-bellied, is also kept as a pet, though it is less common in the pet trade.

Once a customer is taken with the caique fancy, he or she may want to acquire the yellow-thighed, so it's a good idea to find a knowledgeable and prolific breeder when you begin selling these little clowns.

The black-headed and the white-bellied caiques are comparable in appearance, with a few distinctions. They both are about 9 inches long, and their color composition is relatively simple, with "sections" of the bird in green, orange, yellow and white. The blackheaded has, obviously, a black head, and the white-bellied has-you guessed it-a white belly (though the black-headed has a white belly, too).

Most other parrots of this size do not have this distinct color sectioning, making the caique stand out among the flock and also making it particularly interesting to novice bird owners.

Oh, Behave!

Good looks aren't the only thing making the caique a rising star in the bird trade. Caiques have personality to spare and are gregarious and playful, never missing an opportunity to get into mischief

Although they are not known as aggressive biters, caiques are known to be "beaky," meaning that they like to use their beaks to experience the world around them, and can often press down too hard. Many caique owners can easily get their pet to give up this habit, but even proper socialization will not preclude a caique from giving the occasional nip.

Given the propensity these birds have for chewing and general destruction, they are not recommended for small children, though caiques are known to be great family pets, able to bond with multiple people in the household.

Children living in a house that has a caique must be old enough to understand this pet's quirks, which may include feistiness and nipping.

Tell your customer to keep a watchful eye on the caique if there are other birds in the house, as well.

Caiques are known for bird to bird aggression, and care should be taken that the caique does not injure or kill another bird, even one larger than itself. .

Caiques are generally good with other caiques, but the introduction should be done while the birds are young.

Caiques are not quiet birds. Their noise level is moderate and will only bother the more sensitive ear. If a customer can live with a conure, a caique's noise should not bother him. These birds are not known for having outstanding talking ability but can learn to whistle and cluck, and some individuals will amass a respectable vocabulary.

Taking the Caique: Proper Housing and Accessories

Because they are so active, caiques need a generous cage-the largest that your customer has space for-and one with appropriate bar spacing so its head and toes do not become stuck in any part of the cage. The caique needs a sturdy cage because its chewing habit will easily destroy one made from inferior materials.

 The playful caique will appreciate a play gym and a lot of out-of-cage time, so encourage your customer to purchase both a cage-top gym and a freestanding gym that can be moved around the home.

 Warn your customer not to leave the caique alone on the gym, however, because the mischievous and energetic bird is likely to use it as a starting point for a tour around the house to see what it can find to chew.

Caiques are always "on the go" and love to play with toys, especially wooden blocks that they can demolish. Be sure to provide your customer with a steady supply of new toys to have on hand when the bird destroys or becomes bored with the others.

 Indestructible toys made from hard plastics are good, stock, including a good seed as are puzzle toys involving mix and pellets of all shapes hidden nuts and other goodies.  Make sure that your customer doesn’t scrimp on toys; this little bird needs as much stimulation as it can get.

Most standard cage accessories will benefit both the caique and the caique owner. These include stainless-steel coop cups; a variety of perches in different sizes and materials to encourage foot health; a cage bloomer or other seed-catching device to help with keeping the area surrounding the care clean; and of course, if you have the shelf room, a small handheld vacuum and perhaps air filtering devices as well.

Caique Care

 Like all companion birds, caiques need a good balanced diet that includes fruit, veggies, and safe, healthy table foods. These birds get bored easily with the same foods every day, so it's important to tell your customer to mix up the diet a bit and offer an array of different foods daily.

These birds will appreciate many of the food staples you stock, including a good seed mix and pellets of all shapes and sizes. Snacks, such as seed sticks and other seed based snacks, are fun for the caique to pick apart but should not be used as the sole source of nutrition.

 It is a good idea to offer an information sheet on proper bird nutrition with the purchase of this bird, which can live more than 25 years if cared for properly.

 The caique is for the intermediate bird keeper, though well-researched beginners can do fine with a caique, as long as they have a full understanding of this bird's energy level and propensity to nip. Because they are relatively rare at the moment, expect them to be expensive. However, as they become more frequently bred, the price will probably go down in the next few years, as happens with most birds. Supply will outweigh demand, and more people will be able to afford and enjoy this wonderful little parrot.

CAIQUE BASICS

Use Browser BACK Button

Pretty Birds: Copyright © 1997: Last Modified 12/10/01: Copyright Law and International Treaties protect these Web Site Pages. Warning: Reproduction or Distribution of these images, program, text or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.