Black Headed / White Bellied Caique.

A small parrot that is gaining more popularity each passing year is the caique. It has not always been easy to find but more and more breeders in the UK are hand rearing these birds for the pet market. Many of the bird gardens that I have recently visited have been breeding their own stock. Judging from the quantity and quality of the birds I have seen, breeding results seem to be very good.



What They Cost.
There is quite a big difference in price depending on which species you choose.
When I first saw white- bellied caiques in pairs for sale more than 10 years
ago, they cost around 800 a pair. These days you can obtain young
parent-reared birds which are ready to be paired up, which will
ensure they are compatible if you want to try breeding.

Alternatively they will be just good friends if you choose two same sex
birds as companions. Unrelated and DNA sexed, these will probably cost
at least 300 pounds each. I saw a pair of white-bellied caiques that were
parent-reared, unrelated and DNA sexed advertised for 800 pounds.
Well worth the money in my opinion.

In contrast an adult black- headed caique can normally be obtained for
around 180 Pounds. I recently saw a 4 year old pair of black-headed caiques
(DNA sexed) with a cage and a guide book for 325 Pounds, an excellent buy On average a hand-reared silly tame baby black-headed caique will cost bout 350 Pounds. If you seek a baby hand- reared white-bellied caique you need to shop around to find a breeder who is producing chicks on a regular basis. Expect to pay 400-450 Pounds if you are lucky. This may seem like a lot of money for a small parrot but these appealing charmers are well worth buying. My figures are based on birds that were advertised this spring.
Both the white bellied caique and the black- headed caique are 23 cm (9m) length. They each have brash, bold and entertaining personalities but the black-headed caique is the bird that really captivates one just at first glance.
These feisty, entertaining birds are great fun to own however, they have one or two anti-social habits that you need to take into account.

Anti-Social Habits.
CAIQUES are lively, inquisitive birds that appear fearless. You will need to be careful if you own other birds because caiques can be aggressive. While a lonely caique may make fiends with another odd bird of a different species, these are not sociable birds that just slot into a group. They can bite people A hand-reared pet should be brought up with discipline and not allowed too much freedom without proper training.

They really enjoy playing with suitable bird toys and even simple items like cardboard tubes will provide them with lots of pleasure. They love to decimate wood, so provide plenty for them to chew on their cage to keep those busy beaks occupied.

The Caique Family.
THE caiques belong to the genus Pionites. It is a small family consisting of two species, the black-headed and white-bellied caique. The black-headed caique (Pionites melanocephala) has two subspecies, P.m. melanocephala and P.m pallida.

This last subspecies is sometimes called the pallid caique and
you may see it at certain bird gardens (particularly those
abroad). The white-bellied caique (Pionites leucogaster) has
three subspecies, PI. leucogaster, P.I. xanthurus, and PI. xanthomeria,
which is known as the yellow-tailed caique. In aviculture the white-bellied is
often known as the yellow- thighed caique. The yellow-tailed caique, which
is said to be very beautiful, is not seen in Europe and the only known
examples are in a private collection in Brazil.

Because they are so active, these bards need a large cage to allow them to exercise
As well as providing constant supplies of wood for them, It is also wise to provide
the readily available sanded perches because their claws grow fast and need to be
kept honed using scissors to trim claws makes them grow faster, so choose perches
that do the job. You will need to replace wooden perches regularly because they will
be chewed with enthusiasm.

Before you buy a caique, do try to ascertain whether their vocal capacity will be acceptable to you and your family and to neighbors too. Their calls range from shrill to almost mechanical in tone Individual birds vary in their propensity for being harsh sounding when vocalizing. I hope I don't sound too negative about some of the habits of the caique but it is best to be aware of potential problems before buying a bird. There is nothing worse than having to part with a pet because it indulges in antisocial activities you weren't expecting.

On the plus side, caiques can be so loving and affectionate and often like nothing better than a cuddle from their owner All parrots indulge in some negative behavior at some time The onus is very much on owners because I firmly believe that when we buy a young bird particularly one which has been hand-reared, we actually make it what it becomes A contented bird is far more likely to behave well than one which is frustrated by something lacking in his or her day-to-day life.

Every bird needs stimulation and attention and suitable activities It is vital to talk to your bird or birds constantly and reward good behavior with approval. Disapproval is best shown by actually ignoring your pet and avoiding eye contact for a period of time this is one of the most successful methods of discipline A bird that is very fond of its owner will often recognize when it has done something unacceptable If you are seeking a pair of parrots to start breeding, caiques are an excellent choice and by acquiring a proven pair you can increase your chances of successful breeding. Buying a DNA sexed pair is the best bet do not introduce a new bird to one you have already established as caiques can be spiteful and fight if they do not hit it off They are very territorial.

It is always worth spending a little more to buy the best pair of birds you can obtain from a source where you are provided with lots of information on all aspects of the birds' care. Most breeders are only too pleased to supply you with information to start you off.

NativeRange.
IN the wild, black-headed caiques are found north of the Amazon in the Guianas, Surinam, in northern Brazil, north-eastern and southern Venezuela and in south-eastern Colombia, Ecuador and north-eastern Peru. They have been available in the UK for much longer than the white-bellied caiques which is native to Brazil (south of the Amazon), Peru and Bolivia. When breeding, these birds like secluded accommodation Even as pets they need quarters that allow them some seclusion and quiet time.

Messy Eaters.
ALWAYS ensure your cage door is safely closed and locked with a heavy duty padlock this little bird can be a great escape artist. Both species enjoy plenty of fruit and vegetables as well as soaked and sprouted seeds. sweet corn (maize) and a valley of nuts. Hygiene is important caiques enjoy flinging their food around, so you need to cover the surrounding wall and floor with tiles or another easy to wipe surface. It is essential to clean your cage regularly Use newspapers or white paper towels on the cage floor. Whether it is a pet you are after or a suitable pair of small parrots with which to try your hand at breeding, why not consider these delightful parrots that have so much to offers.

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