Caique

• ExerciseVery high

  A high-energy flyer — serious daily flight time and enrichment are essential.

• GroomingEasy upkeep

  Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment25–40 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Feather plucking · Obesity · Respiratory issues

The caique is the clown prince of parrots, an explosion of energy that hops like a wind-up toy, surfs on its back, wrestles its toys and almost never sits still. That relentless playfulness is its joy and its challenge: a caique needs enormous amounts of activity, out-of-cage play, and a constant rotation of toys and foraging, or its busy mind turns to mischief and destruction. It is bold and beaky, can be nippy, and is often best kept as the only bird since it can be aggressive toward others. Diet is mostly pellets and fresh vegetables with limited seed to prevent obesity, fuelling all that motion. Watch for feather plucking driven by under-stimulation, obesity, and respiratory or fungal disease, and remember that non-stick fumes, aerosols and smoke are lethal to a bird's sensitive lungs. A caique is not a quiet ornament — it is a high-energy, hands-on companion that demands play and engagement — but give it that, and it will be one of the most entertaining birds you could keep, for twenty-five to forty years.

• How much activity does a Caique need?

  Very high. A high-energy flyer — serious daily flight time and enrichment are essential.

• How much feather care does a Caique need?

  Easy upkeep. Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• What cage does a Caique need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Caique a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Caique live?

  25–40 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Caique?

  Keep an eye out for Feather plucking, Obesity, Respiratory issues. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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