- Joined
- 6/5/17
- Messages
- 17
- Real Name
- Brittany
I recently put money down on a 12-week old caique at a bird store in St. Louis. It is in a cage with another caique from the same hatch. I had a DNA test done on the bird I wanted and it is a male. I know that it is best to get two caiques so I was interested in possibly getting the other caique that is in the same cage - since they got along very well and appear to be bonded. At this point, both birds are still on two formula feedings a day. It will be a month or two before they are weaned and I can take them home (the store will not release them until they are fully weaned).
The store did a DNA test on the second bird and it came back today - it is a female. This is what I was afraid of, since it is a little lighter in color and a little more mellow acting than the other bird (which I put the deposit on).
I REALLY hate separating the two birds, but I know I can’t have them breeding. I could possibly separate the two if I need to, since the cage I have is very large and has removable separation bars for the center. Still, that could be cruel since they could not roost together at night. I am also afraid that when I do finally separate the two (when I take only one home) it could be very hard on them both emotionally - and they might “mourn” the loss of the other bird. Is this a valid concern? I would get another male caique from the same clutch, but the other two male caiques they have are already sold.
If I take just the male bird, will it do alright alone? I am retired and it will be with me most of the time, but there will be some occasions where I may have to leave it for a few hours a couple of times a week. How many others are there out there who only have one caique - can you chime in here on how well they do as a single bird?
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
The store did a DNA test on the second bird and it came back today - it is a female. This is what I was afraid of, since it is a little lighter in color and a little more mellow acting than the other bird (which I put the deposit on).
I REALLY hate separating the two birds, but I know I can’t have them breeding. I could possibly separate the two if I need to, since the cage I have is very large and has removable separation bars for the center. Still, that could be cruel since they could not roost together at night. I am also afraid that when I do finally separate the two (when I take only one home) it could be very hard on them both emotionally - and they might “mourn” the loss of the other bird. Is this a valid concern? I would get another male caique from the same clutch, but the other two male caiques they have are already sold.
If I take just the male bird, will it do alright alone? I am retired and it will be with me most of the time, but there will be some occasions where I may have to leave it for a few hours a couple of times a week. How many others are there out there who only have one caique - can you chime in here on how well they do as a single bird?
Any advice is greatly appreciated!