The Caïque: who is he? How to raise this bird at home?
Very intelligent and particularly sociable, the Caicos
is an endearing bird brimming with affection. He is a small man who can make
himself heard, not least because he likes to play pranks and entertain his
audience. Very colorful, this beautiful bird is ideal for all profiles of
adopters, from beginners to confirmed, and from singles to families. Discover
its characteristics and our advice for raising it at home.
The Caïque, a beautiful intelligent bird
The Caicos is also known as the Black-headed Caicos
(Pionites melanocephala) or the White-bellied Caicos (Pionites lecogaster).
It's a beautiful, very intelligent, funny, and particularly active animal.
Although he is small at 22 to 26 cm, he likes to play clowns to entertain and
entertain his entourage.
Originally from South America, Caicos is found in the
wild in Guyana, French Guiana, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela,
and Brazil. This very sociable bird lives as a couple or in a group in the
lower tropical forests and swamps.
The Caicos are colorful birds. The head, wings, thighs,
and belly are different in color from the rest of the body, but without any
real gradient. The black-headed ones have orange or yellow cheeks and a green
line under the eyes. The wings and thighs are yellow, the legs and beak are
gray and the abdomen is white or beige. The white-bellied have yellow and
orange heads with green tails and wings. A little yellow permeates their thighs
and their abdomen is white, with pink legs.
A pleasant character
With an average life expectancy between 20 and 30
years when living in a healthy environment, the Caicos is known to attach very
strongly to humans. Very sociable, he likes to take a real place in the life of
the family and he participates in it by entertaining the gallery with his jokes
and dancing little steps. Very intelligent, he quickly learns the tricks that
make his audience laugh and has fun repeating them.
The Caicos have a nice melodious song and know-how to
imitate those of their environment. They can be noisy and restless, which is
why they are not suitable for all families. Sometimes they learn a few simple
words in our language and enjoy repeating them.
Curious, the Caiques like to explore their
environment and discover new things and they have fun and are interested in
everything. Very energetic, they move a lot and play the mischievous and comic.
If they have a pleasant character to live with, they can be distant when they
do not want to communicate, or even pinch to mark a distance. Similarly, they
don't like it in a cage with another kind of bird. feeling threatened they are
very aggressive.
How to raise the Caicos at home?
The Caicos is an easy bird to raise, even for
beginners. It is suitable for both a family and a single person. It is
preferable to adopt a couple, but avoid mixing them with other species, as the Caïcs
would not support it and would be aggressive. On the other hand, this bird is
very sociable with humans and enjoys establishing a strong relationship with
the one or more who take care of it, and who show it love and affection. He is both
able to keep quiet with their adoptive families and to be playful.
Do not adopt a Caicos if you do not have time to give
it, as it needs contact and exchanges throughout the day to feel fulfilled.
However, it can take care of itself for a while, making it suitable for
adoption by active people. Although it is not one of the noisiest, it is still
a bird that cries out very loud; make sure you can put up with them at home
before you commit to twenty years of cohabitation!
A large cage for your well-being
The Caïque will enjoy a large cage or aviary. Don't be
fooled by its small size, it is in great need of space! He likes to play and
have fun, so he needs some space! However, opt for a secure cage, because this
very clever little bird can escape!
Caicos is very active; it is a bird that likes to move
more by walking than by flying. Ideally, let him out of his cage about an hour
a day to allow him to relax and explore other environments in complete freedom,
but under your supervision for better safety.
Make many toys and accessories available for him to
use naturally. Arrange mirrors in the cage as well as several perches
consisting of branches of varying heights and widths.
A varied and quality diet
The Caiques need fresh fruit (apples, pears, etc.) and
fresh vegetables (beets, cress, cabbage, etc.), but also nutritious nuts and
beans. For a better diet, complete their diet with extruded pellets. In
addition, chia seeds can provide an additional source of essential vitamins and
minerals.