Just wanted to pop in and say hi! I picked up my little buddy Colby a week ago, and another member of this forum (Jazzysmama) recommended I check out avianavenue after we met at the avian vet! Colby's my first bird I've ever cared for, got him from a well reputed bird shop in Ohio and he's absolutely adorable. We're getting along well, he loves showers in the morning and we've gone on plenty of adventures throughout the house. He's a bit headstrong, but hey, so am I! Just me and him in the house, most of my immediate family has passed away and the rest have gone their separate ways in the world, but we seem to be keeping each other entertained well enough this past week. I work as a grad student in limnology right now which means my hours are pretty irregular, but I'm trying hard to establish a routine, even if it has me getting up at strange hours (For me: I'm used to going to bed at 3AM, waking up at 10AM ). He got a clean bill of health on Monday from the avian vet and even after his extreme displeasure with all the poking, prodding, and blood drawing, he bounced back surprisingly quickly and was happily chortling away on the ride home.
I won't lie though, I'm a bit worried after reading over this forum. I told the breeder that, above all else, I was looking for a small to medium sized bird with an easy-going disposition that could do well with meeting new people and potentially sharing the house with another bird. I was steered away from a pionus (which is what I went in looking for) and towards a Caique. I do wish I had been told about the hormonal issues at maturity, I probably wouldn't have gotten a Caique had I known that they are known to be so aggressive after maturity. But that's a moot point, Colby's here, he's my bird, and I'll do everything I can to ensure he has a happy, fulfilling life. So anyways, does anyone have any tips you'd recommend for raising a young caique? I picked up Mary Gorman's Caiques and Dr. John McMichael's Caiques: Their Care, Breeding, and Some Natural History, but I wanted to know if anyone had any supplemental advice? Are flightsuits/Aviator Harnesses an okay solution to taking him outside without a carrier? Also, would Colby do better with another Caique as a companion?
Colby after his morning shower, sitting in the blow dryer (Teflon-free, low heat of course!). He's a bit scruffy at the moment, his vet said he looks like he broke a few feathers from all his running around and playful antics!
I won't lie though, I'm a bit worried after reading over this forum. I told the breeder that, above all else, I was looking for a small to medium sized bird with an easy-going disposition that could do well with meeting new people and potentially sharing the house with another bird. I was steered away from a pionus (which is what I went in looking for) and towards a Caique. I do wish I had been told about the hormonal issues at maturity, I probably wouldn't have gotten a Caique had I known that they are known to be so aggressive after maturity. But that's a moot point, Colby's here, he's my bird, and I'll do everything I can to ensure he has a happy, fulfilling life. So anyways, does anyone have any tips you'd recommend for raising a young caique? I picked up Mary Gorman's Caiques and Dr. John McMichael's Caiques: Their Care, Breeding, and Some Natural History, but I wanted to know if anyone had any supplemental advice? Are flightsuits/Aviator Harnesses an okay solution to taking him outside without a carrier? Also, would Colby do better with another Caique as a companion?
Colby after his morning shower, sitting in the blow dryer (Teflon-free, low heat of course!). He's a bit scruffy at the moment, his vet said he looks like he broke a few feathers from all his running around and playful antics!