Are Caique Parrots Aggressive? (The Truth)

Caique parrots are loving and brilliant parrots that can easily bond with the entire family. They make exceptional pets but are not perfect; they are stubborn and very willful. One might even ask are Caique parrots aggressive?

Caique parrots are comical and playful birds that are known for bird-on-bird aggression. Therefore, you should avoid caging them with other parrots. They can become aggressive and deliver some painful and harsh bites.

Parrots are entertaining and exciting creatures, but you need to understand that not all birds have a similar temperament. So in this article, we will show you why Caique parrots are aggressive. We’ll also show you how to deal with an aggressive caique parrot.       

Are Caique Parrots Aggressive?

If you’re looking for an active, beautiful, intelligent, and entertaining pet, you can never go wrong with caique parrots. These exceptional little birds pack lots of personality in a small bundle of feathers. 

Plus, they’re known as clowns of the world of birds, so you should be ready for some fun. Compared to other birds, the caiques can easily place themselves in your heart and home. (source)

They love activities and can spend a better part of their day exploring their environments and can have fun with other parrots. They do get along in pairs, but you should never cage your parrot with another species. And that is because they can become aggressive and start delivering some harsh bites. (source)

Bird-On-Bird Aggression

These parrots are known for bird-on-bird aggression; therefore, they can become very aggressive when exposed to other birds. Consequently, they can start showing dominance over their cage mates by delivering some harsh bites. 

Most bird lovers have complained that their caiques tend to attack other bird pets. But, if they were born together or adopted while young, they get along and can live peacefully in the same cage.

Therefore, the best solution for bird-on-bird aggression is adopting them together at infancy, which will ensure that they are raised together and even grow up to become great pals. But if they start fighting, you should separate them immediately.

Aggression During the Mating Season

Caique parrots can become aggressive during the mating season, and in most cases, they direct their anger toward other pets or people near them. Some parrot owners have complained that their pets started clamping down on anyone who spends more time with them.

When they start becoming aggressive during the mating season, you can take them to the veterinarian and get some medication to help with the aggression or wait out the mating season. After all, the aggression will end as soon as the mating season ends. (source)

Do They Always Bite Because of Aggression?

Not necessarily, caique parrots bite due to aggression, but their bites don’t always mean that they’re angry. If your pet delivers some harsh bites when handling or playing, it may be trying to balance on your hand or playing. 

Luckily, there is a way to tame this behavior, and you shouldn’t always assume that your pet is angry. (source)

But at the moment, you should remove your hand gently and replace it with a toy. And then adjust its environment, making sure that it feels secure and safe in its cage. To manage this bad behavior, you should do the following:

• If you don’t know if the bite is due to aggression or not, you can gently remove your hand and replace it with a toy. But don’t leave the room or punish your pet for harshly biting your finger. Leaving the room will show your pet that the best solution for making you leave him alone is biting your finger.
• If you’re petting or playing too fast, your pet can become excited and bite you. So the best thing you should do is slow down what you’re doing.
• It would help if you also stopped waving the toys too fast in front of your pet, or it would stop attacking your fingers in excitement.
• You can also blow some air into its face to distract it. Blowing air onto its face is more effective than yelling or scaring it.
• Another reliable solution for this behavior is to place it on the floor and let it continue exploring the room.

How Do You Handle A Caique?

Caiques are intelligent creatures that can pick up cues from you. So you should never be in a hurry to handle it and make sure you’re not upset or stressed; after all, it can pick your emotion. If you’re scared, your pet will also feel afraid and may be aggressive. When handling your pet, you should do the following:

1. Let Your Caique Come To You

Instead of forcing yourself to it, you should let your parrot come cuddly on its terms. Once it’s comfortable climbing on your hands and being lifted, it will show affection and become cuddly.

2. Spend More Time With Your Pet When New

To get your caique used to being handled, you should be consistent, which means spending more time together. Scratch its head, and give it treats so that it can get used to your touch. While working in the same room, make sure you talk to it.

3. Reward Good Behaviors

It’s crucial that your pet associates handling with an exceptional experience; therefore, make sure you give it treats. Doing this can help curb numerous aggressive behaviors, including biting. 

So it would be best if you gave it some treat every time you handled it. Treats, toys, and praise can make your new pet associate handling a good experience. (source)

FAQs

Are Caiques Friendly?

Yes, caiques can form powerful bonds with their owners. They love attention and can be quite affectionate and love playing or just sitting with their owners; therefore, if you’re looking for a great pal, you should adopt a caique.

Can Caiques Talk?

Caique parrots are not known for talking, but they can be taught how to cluck and whistle perfectly. Some caiques can try and talk, but their mimicking cannot match other talking parrots.

Why Do Caiques Scream?

Caiques tend to scream when they need something. They may be looking for food or your attention, so the best thing you can do is try and appease them.

Final Thoughts

Caiques are loving creatures that can make outstanding bonds with their owners. However, they’re known for their aggression, especially when another bird enters their space. Luckily, you can use different practical methods to manage their aggression.