Adding a BHC to our little flock!

[EnglishMuffin]

Hi all! I haven't been around here in quite a while but I come back with good news; I currently have reserved a baby BHC who's being hand-reared! She should be reasy in 2-3 weeks and we are so excited! I have a few questions I hope some of you experienced Caique owners might be able to help me with...


Diet: My YSGCC is on harrison's and I intend to wean the new baby onto harrison's too as I swear by it for Sootie. She also gets regular green and orange veggies, fruits a couple of times a week, berries, wholegrain pasta (her absolute fave), almond or walnut once a day to every two days, hot chilis once a week or so. Just wondering if the caique diet is significantly different or if they'll be okay having roughly the same foods?

cage: confused about size of bar spacing! I figure, half an inch is too small, an inch is too big? Is that about right?

introductions: I've been warned by the breeder that the girls might not get along as caiques are much more boisterous and rough than conures. This I'm expecting as sootie is just a little cuddle bum and doesn't play much now she's an adult. Just wondering if anyone has both caique and gcc and how they get along with each other? They will have separate cages but is it safe to have them on a neutral playstand together?

Thanks in advance...so excited!
Sam

 

[wrench13]

Don't own one, but all I've read say that caiques are hell on other birds, even much larger ones. When I have time to type it out, I should tell you my caique story OK, short version. Wife and I visit the big bird store here. They had a cage with 15 or so caiques in it. A lady asks to see one and the clerk forgets to lock the door. These caiques come boiling out the door, like a jail break at the county lock up, bum's rushing the clerk, some up her arm and some jumping off the cage, to go all over the store. Took them 2 hours, I heard, to get them all back in. Yep, smart little birds caiques.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Congratulations and... g-g-good l-l-luck!

 

[BruceTheQuail]

Congratulations!

We added a caique hen to our crew a few months ago and then a little man for her a fortnight ago. These are seriously fun birds although they hurt like hell when they bite because they have a long sharp point on their beaks, like a nail, and they do have tendencies to bite in fun and have to be kept in check.

Personality wise I am finding them closest to lovebirds, with which we have had a lot of experience.

For the food, I am giving them what I feed the eckies. Fruit and veg in the morning (sprinkled with some vitamin powder), a small parrot seed mix and maybe some pellets in the afternoon. They eat heaps, more than the eckies, because they are very active. The breeder fed them mealworms (yuk). I dont, but I'll let them nibble a cutlet bone as a treat every so often.

Caiques are known for bird on bird agression. I read that they are OK with birds already in your house but can be nasty to new ones (other than another caique). Ultimately we dont let them out unsupervised, and wouldnt let them out at the same time as the other birds.

With the cage, this is what I have, it is perfect for them Lacework Bird Cage on Wheels for Medium to Large Size Parrots - Gray | Crazy Sales

 

[Leah_Jones]

I own a year old BHC names kona He was also hand reared and lived among-st other birds as a baby. However he tries to attack my cat, my guniea pigs, and my two pit bulls who are now terrified of him. I do not own any other birds but i have heard that they will attack if the other bird isnt a caique or that they will "Shut down" and be cage bound. Happened to a girl named kayla with her caique.

 

[EnglishMuffin]

Liberta Drake Small Parrot Cage and stand 2nd Edition ? Next Day Delivery Liberta Drake Small Parrot Cage and stand 2nd Edition

looking at this one, what does everyone think?

 

[Flboy]

Open top are known to be very dangerous! If you want the cage for other reasons then tye wrap the top, tightly!
A playful bird can knock the perch loose, they are also known to try to push the top open, hanging themselves!

 

[atomicpunk]

Don't own one, but all I've read say that caiques are hell on other birds, even much larger ones. When I have time to type it out, I should tell you my caique story OK, short version. Wife and I visit the big bird store here. They had a cage with 15 or so caiques in it. A lady asks to see one and the clerk forgets to lock the door. These caiques come boiling out the door, like a jail break at the county lock up, bum's rushing the clerk, some up her arm and some jumping off the cage, to go all over the store. Took them 2 hours, I heard, to get them all back in. Yep, smart little birds caiques.

I So wish that was on youtube.

 

[Allee]

Welcome back, nice to see you here! How exciting, I think caiques are adorable and the ones I've met have the cutest personalities.

I have a cage similar to the one you are looking at, I used it for a cockatiel for a short time. It was difficult to take apart and a horror to keep clean. I think I would look for something larger for your caique. 3/4 or 7/8 bar spacing should be appropriate.

Al, I love the great escape story, well told, hilarious visual!

 

[Irishj9]

I have 13 of these guys so I have some experience. Oldest is 5 years old.

Caiques are tough vigorous football players. They bounce off each other for fun.

Can your conure play football?. Can she take a rough tackle and fight back joyously.

probably not, probably she is a pretty little ballerina....

I speak from experience with a quaker. It was badly hurt.

Separate cages all the time you are not there watching intently

J