Making decisions

[Atomiklan]

As some of you already know, I am very new (hours) to the forum. I appreciate the answers received thus far. I wanted to give some more details about my current living situation and get some open feedback and some poll results from all of you. It's been difficult to find information locally (at least so far). You're expertise has been really helpful! Thank you!

NOTE: Researching getting a Black headed Caique from a reputable breeder.

So I am very interested in jumping in and have been doing LOTS of research. I'm no where near ready to push the button yet, but I have at least inquired with a breeder about a waiting list in case the wait is more than expected. I'm an engineer and nuclear physicist in Raleigh NC. I currently work two jobs, but one is my own R&D company and 80% of that work right now is theory based and done from my home office on my own time. My day job is with Cisco. I usually go into the office twice a week (Tue and Wed). The rest of the week, I work from my home office (upstairs) or kitchen. I am somewhat of a home body. I don't travel except maybe two or three times a year and that's usually to visit family or go to a conference. On weekends, I occasionally go to a machine shop to work on some research related stuff, but I am usually only gone half a day or so. The rest of the time I am usually at home.

I'm 30 years old and a single guy. I don't have any kids (or plans to) nor do I have any other pets. I had a dog as a kid and I love all animals, but up until now, my solution has been to just borrow a friends pet for the week/weekend . Part of me kinda worries about this haha. Maybe I have commitment issues... yikes... However, for the first time ever, I feel like I am really seriously considering a pet. I have joked about getting a dog or even a duck (haha), but it is usually just a fleeting thing. This is the first time I have spent some considerable time reading about all the details, visiting stores looking at toys, browsing Amazon for cages. I even considered going a little overboard (typical engineer) and building a custom 80/20 industrial strength cage haha.

As I already mentioned in a previous thread, some days I am really excited about it and ready to go. The next day I am a little discouraged and apprehensive. I’m trying to figure out if this feeling is normal and if adding a feathered friend(s) to my lifestyle is the best choice. I want to make sure I can give all the time my new buddy is going to need, but I am a young professional and if job changes, my schedule could change too, and with no one else home, I am just worried about the future. I feel like I am just over thinking things. My schedule would not change drastically with a new job and I don't plan to leave Raleigh. I'm just thinking about all the unknowns over birds potential lifespan. I'm particularly concerned about if I do need someone to watch him, finding someone who would be patient with him. I feel like I have done the research and understand that I am going to have to be patient, but someone watch him/her/them over say a weekend my not be so patient. My parents initially seem excited for me and at least open to the idea (assuming they don't poop all over the house when coming to visit... We may need to work on that with them haha).

A little more about my current living situation. I currently rent a house. Pets are probably fine with landlord but of course will need to double check first. Been here long time. We have a good relationship and don't think it would be a problem. Considering moving to new house or town house soon anyways so not too worried about this. I can always make sure the new location is ideal. The current house is a little interesting. The downstairs is all one big room. Kitchen separated by island, dining and living room. Partially carpet, hard floors. I am thinking about keeping large cage (large tall vertical cage with playpen on top) in the corner of living room (cage near two walls). Not in direct sunlight or vents, but over carpet. The other option is near kitchen (breakfast nook), again in corner near window but not in direct sun ever. Big difference is over hard floor so probably easier to clean. I am worried about cleaning sprays, dishwasher, oven etc. Getting rid of Teflon pots and pans is easy, but do I just completely stop using my oven and dishwasher? Is that really the sacrifice all bird owners make? I don't use oven all that much, but I love my dishwasher. Suggestions here?

Last question is concerning one or two Black Caiques. Some people are saying one. Others are saying two. I am particularly interested in opinions of those who don't already own multiple birds (ie 3 or 4+ birds). I don't have any desire to own multiple birds. I really only desire to own one special buddy, but if the consensus is that I must buy two for them to be happier, then I will absolutely consider two. I just want to try to avoid bias from those who feel "the more the merrier." Could you please comment below and respond to the poll for one or two Caiques?

Thank you again for all of your help. I was recommended to join this forum by Rita from Rainbow Parrots and she was absolutely correct. This has been a great source of information!

Regards,
Andrew

 

[ode.to.parrots]

Hey Andrew,
I just finished reading the other forum you posted on as well, and I think it is great that you are putting so much time and thought into this. I wish more people would!
It sounds like you are in a really good position for becoming a parront - living in a house (not an apartment), stable job, consistent hours - but it is also great that you are considering potential unknowns in your future and looking at the long life you'll be spending with your bird.
In regards to your fear of commitment, I really thing the best thing you can do be to absolutely sure that you want a bird before getting a bird is to either volunteer or, better yet, to foster. As other members will tell you (and as I've said on here before), it is one thing to read online and think "Yeah, I can totally spend x amount of time cleaning after my birds." It is a very different thing to actually do the cleaning. Not to mention that you would be doing a wonderful thing by giving a bird a safe haven until he/she finds a home of his/her forever home.
You also asked about getting one or two birds, and while I can understand the idea of having "that one special buddy you do everything with" I really feel that daydream (of which I have also been guilty) is very much a human-centered daydream. I feel that if you really want to give your future bird the best, happiest, most fulfilled captive/companion bird life, you would ensure that there is another flock member of his/her own species to share his/her life with. As a result of having happy birds, you'll also have less potential behavior problems to deal with: screaming when you are away (birds are more likely to feel threatened when alone; even something as simple as going to the grocery store could make your bird anxious), plucking due to loneliness (I don't think caiques are known for plucking, but it is still something to consider), one-person bird tendencies (you wouldn't be a flock with just the two of you - more of a mated pair), even lack of exercise (who is going to play with your caique when you are away or busy?). Although I have absolutely NO experience with caiques, I've heard someone who does (can't remember who) that the only thing that can keep up with a caique is another caique.
I know my experience is limited to my two cockatiels, but honestly, I can't imagine living with just one. Partially because it is so reassuring to know that they have each other's company when I am away at work. They very much have a brotherly bond - one minute they are exploring the floor together, the next they are bickering over perch spots, the next they are cozied up together happily grinding their beaks. And even though they have each other, they still make it obvious that my fiance and I are part of the flock and they both very much seek out our attention. Not to mention that they have two very different personalities that are both so endearing in their own ways.
I promised myself a little while ago that, if I ever were to bring in another species of bird into my home, I would be sure to be in a position to properly care for two of them.

 

[Atomiklan]

If I did decide to get two, would I have to get two separate cages? I hate the idea of having two separate cages. If I absolutely had to do that I would probably end up building my own single but partitioned cage so at least it looks nice and looks like one cage. I know this seems silly, but I am still getting accustomed to the idea of having a cage in the house. I want to make sure its large enough and functional for the birds (first priority), but then aesthetically pleasing as well.

 

[Pipsqueak]

You should get two that are already together

 

[Akoni]

It's hard to see pairs like @saroj12 's Chickie and JoJo and argue for just one caique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFihvFkBS9c
I have one caique. She wrestles like Chickie and JoJo do in the video but I feel like she is missing a suitable partner in play- and caiques live to play. I do think she benefits from my cockatiel's companionship though; they are vastly different but bonded and share time together while supervised.

Most of us use dishwashers and ovens (how do you think we bake birdie bread?!) while keeping birds. The only thing with ovens is to avoid using the self-cleaning cycle or harsh chemical cleaners. A vinegar and water solution is healthier for you and your bird and cleans just as well.

I think Saroj12 and @Laurie keep their caiques in cages as pairs. I think it depends entirely on the pair.

 

[saroj12]

Nicole, yes, my two live together in a cage. I got them very closely spaced from shadypines aviary as 3-4 month olds and they've grown up together. 12 and 11.9 yo now. Andrew, I'm a physicist and electrical engineer too, but do software programming for my job. I have the flexibility to do five hours at work and three at home, but I'm starting to spend more hours at work now. Anyway, they adjust well. I have a nestcam on them so I can monitor on my phone or laptop at work. They entertain each other most of the time. For 1,000 plus short videos my YouTube channel is bonosa1.

 

[Atomiklan]

Andrew, I'm a physicist and electrical engineer too

Ha, small world! Thanks! I will take a look. Good idea too with the cam.

 

[Atomiklan]

Saroj12, I would love to hear some more about your experiences with and building up to getting your pair. How you felt before hand etc. Sounds like you are/where in a very similar situation as myself. Good case study

 

[saroj12]

Saroj12, I would love to hear some more about your experiences with and building up to getting your pair. How you felt before hand etc. Sounds like you are/where in a very similar situation as myself. Good case study

Well, I wanted a friend for my lonely Jackson Quaker and my vet suggested a caique. I got JoJo male from Gloria Balaban at shadypine aviary. He turned out to be much bigger in size, so now I had two lonely birds. At the time I was enamoured by online friends who had a pair of caiques. It was just so cute watching them playing together in videos. I was gone nine hours of the day so I decided JoJo needed a friend. He was four months old so chances were excellent he would bond with another baby caique. Actually he. was and still is very bonded to me. As is Chickie. Caiques are unique in that they retain the human bond ever when a mate is added. So enter Chickie two months later. Unrelated. Omg the noise level went up to unbearable levels and I thought I'd made a strategic error. I was in a townhouse, no one complained though they could hear them through concrete walls! They bonded immediately and won me over with their cute interactions and play. Plus JoJo seemed a lot happier and alive! So I put up with the noise, moved to my other half's house, added on 800 sq feet divided into an indoor and outdoor room and the screaming went away! Like magic! They just needed lots of space to burn off their energy plus their breeder clips molted and the flying expended tons of energy. Not saying you have to do that but two caiques in a townhouse can be a noise problem. I'll post a link to their baby picture story tonight for a little more background. Hope this helps!

 

[saroj12]

Ps, the search for a buddy for Jackson led to my adding four more birds within a year. No one befriended him but Jackson was ecstatic having a flock! So that all worked out except I have six birds who I dearly love and am run ragged by

 

[Atomiklan]

Haha so x2 caiques = x4 noise, but x8 cuteness

 

[saroj12]

Haha so x2 caiques = x4 noise, but x8 cuteness

Yep, or else no one would keep two! Two girls, or a girl boy pair works best, but not two males. Btw, mine are 12ish and are very well socialized and don't bite. If you try to take away JoJo's food from him you may get a warning nip! But no Jekyll and Hyde stuff.

 

[Laylatoo]

I've never owned a caique but the ones I've been around were so playful and so much fun to watch together. I'd think with such a playful species they would definitely benefit from the companionship of a duo. I'm going to soon have a second Rose Breasted Cockatoo joining our family (in August once weaned). I've already purchased a second cage. My current girl is 3 and has been an only bird for the most part so I'm remaining hopeful they form some kind of friendship but fully anticipating that could not be the case. You are in a great position to consider two siblings of the same age! Then one cage may be absolutely doable. kudos to you for thinking all this through!

 

[WendyN]

BTW, saroj's caiques are white belly caiques with apricot heads.

 

[SpecialistElbru]

but do I just completely stop using my oven and dishwasher?

I don't think dishwashers are a problem as long as you don't use heat drying. If plastic lands on the heating element and makes smoke that could be deadly. But just hot water and dishwasher soap should be fine. The soap might release some irritating oils, but as long as the bird is not in the kitchen when the dish washer is running, I wouldn't imagine that there would be enough irritation oils spread across the house. Being in engineering type I might suspect that you could find a way to temporally disable the heating element in the dishwasher.

Also if you build your own bird items remember that zinc is toxic to birds. So use stainless steal hardware.

 

[saroj12]

here you go!

JoJo and Chickie baby pics! | Avian Avenue Parrot Forum

p.s. kitchen isn't a good location for the caiques, cooking fumes or burning toast which I'm skilled at, etc.

 

[Laurie]

Well, I do have multiple birds but that hasn't always been the case. Until, I got the caiques I would have absolutely said just get one parrot to be your special buddy. You don't need the competition. But with caiques I truly feel like two caiques can be great companions for each other and you. A pair of caiques will entertain you and themselves more easily than one will and you will all be one big happy family.

They do not have a reputation of ignoring people in favor of one another.

I have three pairs. Each pair is tame and friendly toward me (with individual variations) and also likes one or two of the other birds. Hormones are raging at the moments and though mine are all pets first, they are male/female pairs so right now they are a little nuts. If you are just getting them for pets then you should get a same sex pair.

I think they are fine alone but I would absolutely not hesitate to get two.

It's best to get two who are already together, like siblings. Four of mine who all came from the same breeder were raised like siblings but are all unrelated to one another they all got along until they started pairing off when they got to be a couple years old.

Same sex pairs with likely stay friends.

 

[Atomiklan]

Thanks everyone. It looks like I may need to reconsider and get two. Still need a larger sample size, but so far the poll results are pretty telling haha. 100% yes, get two...

 

[Atomiklan]

I guess the next logical question to ask is what would be the best pair? Sounds like MM would not be a good choice unless together from birth (which should be the case no matter the pairing as I will buy them together). Even still, sounds like MM is still not best option. If I did choose MM, should they be brothers or just same age? Next up would be FF. All same questions apply here. Last and what seems like the best choice for some reason is MF pair (It sounds like these will be same age but not brother sister intentionally for obvious reasons). How would/could I discourage or stop them from breeding? Considering the ultimate goal would be a single cage, I'm guessing most of you will tell me I just need to get over that fact. Either separate them in different cages, or let nature take its course. Is there not a technique similar to say Finches where you can discourage breeding? Thanks!

 

[saroj12]

JoJo and Chickie do their thing, I don't stop them. JoJo's not very successful though, Chickie squirms away. Anyway, there are no nesting locations in their cage and Chickie is 12 in june, no eggs ever. They do have a hanging basket that the breeder discouraged, but they chew wood pieces sitting on the edge, and nap in there. I don't worry about their basket which is technically a nesting spot, I've not noticed nesting behavior. If they do have eggs I won't be able to take over once every two hour feedings in case there are issues, so sad to say I'd have to consider discarding them and replacing with fake eggs. Or overnight the eggs to their breeder in west palm beach. Probably do that, she said they remain viable for a day or two. I hope they never have eggs until I retire which is not for another 15 years!