The Basics:

Attractive birds with active minds and a determined spirit, Caiques flourish when provided with an enriched environment that offers varied opportunities for play and exercise, as well as regular interaction with their human companions. These intelligent birds love to explore with their beaks and will chew on almost anything within range.

Cage:

Caiques are extremely active birds that love to play, so they need more cage space than their diminutive stature suggests. The minimum size of this feathered dynamo’s cage should be 48” long by 36” wide by 42” high. Spacing of cage bars should be no more than ¾”.

CAUTION
In most cases, more space is more desirable for birds. However, when increasing the size of a Caique’s cage, the bird’s human companion must be careful to maintain a safe (narrow) space between the bars. The bars of a cage have to be narrow enough to prevent a bird from sticking his head in between. Bars that are spaced too far apart for the bird’s size can result in serious and even fatal injuries

Positioning The Cage:

The curious Caique will enjoy having his cage placed in an area where there is family activity, since it will provide mental stimulation. However, the cage should also offer enough privacy to provide the bird with a sense of security. So, rather than being located directly in the path of heavy household traffic, the cage should be positioned in an alcove or area that has a wall on one or two sides of the cage. As a good rule of thumb, no family member should be able to walk all the way around the cage. If there is a lot of night-time activity in the room that houses the cage, such as a TV going after 9 pm, the Caique should be provided with a small sleeping cage in another, quieter room. Another alternative is to have a cage on wheels, so it can be moved to a quiet area at night. It is critically important that the bird be provided with at least 10-12 hours of quiet undisturbed sleep time each night. The cage can be covered at night. This cover should be washed weekly, since it will accumulate feather dust.

Playthings:

Staying active through play is essential to the Caique’s mental and physical health. The more a Caique has to play with, the better. However, the cage should never become too cluttered with toys, since this is not only uncomfortable, it also poses a safety hazard. It is better to have a variety of toys and rotate them in and out of the cage and outside play area. Noisy toys hold a particular attraction for Caiques, such those with bells or rattles. Care should be taken to ensure that these toys are safe, with no sharp edges that can cut a bird, and no small openings where the Caique can catch a nail or beak. Chewing is another favorite past time of Caiques, which means that they should have wooden chew toys that are replaced regularly. Many Caiques also love to play with foot toys.

Perches:

A Caique needs to have at least two or three perches with different diameters in his cage. The perches should be made of different materials. Perches serve many important purposes. In addition to providing the bird with an area for standing, they help keep his beak and nails trim. A perch should be placed in front of, but not above, food and water dishes. Perches should measure around 5/8” in diameter.

Play Time Outside The Cage:

Caiques require some time out of their cage every day, and must have a play gym with a variety of toys. Their wings should be clipped by a professional and regularly checked to prevent them from escaping. 

Grooming:

A lukewarm bath or shower on a regular basis will contribute to a Caique’s health and well being. Caiques seem to enjoy bathing a great deal, so a shallow bath with chlorine-free water should always be provided and water should be changed throughout the day. A professional should trim feathers, nails and beaks as needed.

Diet:

Like most avian pets, Caiques do best with a diet that is pellet-based. Seeds, fruits, vegetables and some grains be offered only as rare treats. Fruits and vegetables should be rinsed, dried and cut into appropriately sized pieces before being offered to this bird. They must be removed after a few hours, and discarded. Fresh chlorine-free water should always be available and accessible, even when a bird is outside of his cage