Caique vs Yellow-headed Amazon Parrot. What would suit my living situaton

[_nath]

Hi everyone,

I'm sure this has been asked multiple times but I keep finding so much conflicting info online.
I live in Australia and have grown up breeding Budgies, Cockatiels and Finches and now want to try an Amazonian parrot which we don't see many of here.

I live alone and work full time from home and plan on having the cage next to me in the lounge room with the cage always open while I'm home.
I had my heart set on a caique and with only one local store in my city selling hand raised Amazonian birds I'm receiving conflicting info from the staff at the store.
They hand raise them at the store and then they go to the main room to get socialised/desensitised with other people around before we can take them home.

One staff member is recommending the caique with another saying they are too loud and needy and is pushing me towards a Yellow-headed Amazon.
I love the idea of a fun smaller bird like the caique but I'm being told if I was ever to go back to work it wouldn't handle being alone and he is really pushing the noise problem saying I wouldn't be able to work with a caique in the house. (I'm not working remotely from Covid and won't be going back to the office anytime soon. I also own the business and could have a second cage at work if needed)

I'd love some advice from someone who has experience with both. Hand raised caiques are $2000 Aud ($1531 USD) or $1000 Aud for a Yellow-headed Amazon and with how long they live I know they're a long term investment and want to get it right. I camp regularly I would take my bird with me plus I have a Labradoodle who is fine with birds but my concern is whether a Yellow-headed Amazon would bond with me and have a problem with the dog. (my dog is bird-friendly and whenever given a chance to meet with a bird she always tries to nurse them lol)

I also back onto bushland with a large property and love the idea of being able to free-flight train a bird.

Thanks in advance,
Nathan

 

[wrench13]

Caiques are bundles of energy and you cant really leave them unsupervised for long before they get into truble. I mean all parrots need supervision but these guys have 2 modes, sleep and play. Amazons have their active times too but when they get a bit older a lot of them like to just hang for awhile. If you plan on having your parrot out of cage while you work, I would think a 'zon might allow you to get some work done.
Both species are loud, occasionally REALLY loud.

 

[texsize]

I have often thought that if I was to start keeping parrots all over aging I would go with a Caique .

I have watched videos of them doing there jumping around and crazy antics.

But my two green cheek Amazons are also extremely playful allot of the time and are a lot of fun to watch. I don't know if it's because they are young (around 5 years old) or it is in the nature of this species of birds to be more active and playful.
My Yellow nape is around 37 years old and is more of a perch potato than playful.
He goes into a playful frenzy once or twice a day for short times but he is quiet for a amazon. Only screams for a reason unlike my green cheeks that seem to scream for the joy of it.
The yellow head you are considering is more likely to behave like my Yellow nape than the green cheek amazons. But every bird is an individual.

In the end I (and a lot of others on the forum) would tell you let the bird choose you.
You will end up with a better bond than if you choose.

texsize

 

[SailBoat]

I cannot agree more with my fellow Amazon friends!

Regarding selection; Letting the Parrot choose you is so very important to assuring a strong 'beginning' to developing a bond! They are far better at it than Humans.

Please read with understanding, the two Threads at the Top of the Amazon Forum as they provide for a deep understanding of living and loving Amazons.

I do not support Free Flight in the great outdoors! Especially if you have Birds of Prey that semi-commonly overfly your area. The other reason, is that there is no assurance that something will spook your dear love and you are left to watch you dear Parrot fly beyond you sight!

Cheers!

 

[Laurasea]

you should follow your heart.
I had wanted a quaker as my first parrot, and let the store employee talk me out of it. A green check had chosen me, and she was amazing and the biggest sweetheart, we definitely had a close and special bond. It took me 17 years to finally get a quaker, and they are definitely my soul species.
Never do I regret Burt The Burd , she was so special as is my remaining GCC Ta-dah who is having mommy and me time right now and kissing me .

But sometimes you are drawn to a species, if its your dream species go for it! Lol at the same time I have to say keep your heart open for who ever chooses you

Edit: do keep in mind that unless added as babies together caique don't get along with other parrots. They are very much known for that

 

[LaManuka]

I would have to echo Sailboat's caution against outdoor free-flying, particularly in Australia. It's not merely the more obvious birds of prey you need to be concerned about, but also the likes of very territorial butcherbirds and magpies who would take a very dim view of a brightly coloured interloper. Even much smaller birds like the ubiquitous noisy miners have absolutely no hesitation in ganging up on much larger birds and seeing them off, and I've seen crows quite mercilessly chase sea eagles and ospreys for many many miles to the point of exhaustion too. It's your decision of course, but in my very humble opinion there are just too many risks involved and i just don't think it's worth it.

 

[_nath]

you should follow your heart.
I had wanted a quaker as my first parrot, and let the store employee talk me out of it. A green check had chosen me, and she was amazing and the biggest sweetheart, we definitely had a close and special bond. It took me 17 years to finally get a quaker, and they are definitely my soul species.
Never do I regret Burt The Burd , she was so special as is my remaining GCC Ta-dah who is having mommy and me time right now and kissing me .

But sometimes you are drawn to a species, if its your dream species go for it! Lol at the same time I have to say keep your heart open for who ever chooses you

Edit: do keep in mind that unless added as babies together caique don't get along with other parrots. They are very much known for that

I've always wanted a sun conure, I've loved them since a child and the ones at the store are so loving and quiet but I know how loud they get so I left them out of the equation. I like the idea of a Caique because they are smaller and get along with other humans better rather than bonding with one except the store insists I wouldn't be able to work with the noise they make. The problem is I have two different bird keeps at the store that both tell me different things and disagree with each other. I go in regularly and I've felt how some birds are just drawn to you.

 

[_nath]

I would have to echo Sailboat's caution against outdoor free-flying, particularly in Australia. It's not merely the more obvious birds of prey you need to be concerned about, but also the likes of very territorial butcherbirds and magpies who would take a very dim view of a brightly coloured interloper. Even much smaller birds like the ubiquitous noisy miners have absolutely no hesitation in ganging up on much larger birds and seeing them off, and I've seen crows quite mercilessly chase sea eagles and ospreys for many many miles to the point of exhaustion too. It's your decision of course, but in my very humble opinion there are just too many risks involved and i just don't think it's worth it.

I keep bantams chickens on my property that are free-range and have never had a problem, where I live in the valley I've never seen any sort of raptor except the odd owl at night. But yes the idea of the bird spooking and flying away is definitely a scary idea.

 

[_nath]

Thank you for the great advice everyone! The Caiques come out first and the yellows are about 6 weeks away before I can meet them. I say I'll fall in love with a Caique first

 

[wrench13]

And besides the birds in Australia are poisonous.

 

[Laurasea]

suns have a loud volume. But I'm unsure how continuous their noise is. Maybe some sun conure owners can step in and answer. Or you could start a new thread and ask about them.

Nearly all parrots are going to be loud sometimes, usually mornings at least st my place, and breeding season can see an up tick in .
Many parrots develop screaming as a behavior response to boredom, frustrations , like not enough mental or physical exercise , when they are caged and see you right there , not answering flock calls( develop a word, or phrase or whistle as your flock call)

 

[SailBoat]

And besides the birds in Australia are poisonous.

So very true!! The Illness that results is: Gotta Have More, ism!!