Caique parrots are playful, energetic, and funny birds. They need attention, care, and enough space to keep themselves healthy. Giving them the required attention, a good diet, and adequate care can make them stay healthy while creating a perfect habitat for your bird will make you enjoy your feathered friend more. That way, you can ensure that your bird is happy the same way it makes you happy.
Owners get deceived by the size of the Caique and end up choosing or creating the wrong cage for them. In this article, you are about to learn how to select a perfect cage for your Caique, things to consider when choosing the cage, how to set up the cage, and all about the cage set up.
Things to consider when choosing a Caique cage
Size
As much as you would love to consider the size of the bird, it is not necessary if you are dealing with a Caique. This is because the Caique is an energetic bird that needs a lot of space. It is always safe to go for the bigger cage for your Caique.
The smallest dimension you can consider for your bird is 24 x 24 x 24 inches; for those who prefer to use centimeters, 60 x 60 x 60 cm is always fine. And with that, the Caique must be made to spend a lot of time outside the cage every day.
The ideal size of cage you can go for is 36 x 24 x 48 inches or 91 x 60 x 121 cm. If you wonder why your bird needs that kind of spacious cage, you probably do not know that your bird loves to make moves like Tarzan. A Caique loves to fly, walk, hop, jump, and climb all day. These favorite activities of the Caique cannot be done in a small cage.
Bar spacing
You have to put in mind that not all big cages are ideal for the Caique. Considering bar spacing is important because Caique is inquisitive and loves to check everything within and outside the cage. The ideal bar spacing for a Caique is three-quarters of an inch or 1.9cm. Also, it is better to have horizontal and vertical bars and not just vertical; because it helps the Caique climb the cage easily and reduces the chance of the bird escaping.
Material
It is always safe to choose a cage made of metal over a wooden cage. Caique loves to chew and can destroy the wooden cage in no time, making owners change the cage several times. You also have to be careful when choosing a metal cage. Always go for metals that are not painted because your bird will most likely attempt to chew the metal and will only peel off the paint, which can be dangerous for the bird. You also have to be sure that the wires are sturdy, so they do not break.
Space
Always look out for a more spacious cage. Dome top cages are usually the best option; apart from being beautiful, it provides additional space at the top.
How to place the cage
- Place the cage where you will likely visit often because of proper socialization with your bird.
If you have other pets in the home, especially cats or dogs, you have to be careful where you place your cage. While a spot higher than dogs is okay if you only keep dogs, it can be dangerous for cat owners because a cat can jump and injure the Caique. In case you keep cats, get a tall and robust stand to keep your Caique safe. - Do not place your Caique’s cage near a hot or cold draft. Birds are sensitive to temperature changes; therefore, do not place their cage where there is extreme temperature change like near open windows, air conditioners, or heat vents.
Birds have sensitive respiratory systems, especially Caiques; they are sensitive to strong odors. Avoid keeping the cage near strong odors, smoke, or fumes. - Do not keep the cage in the kitchen, as the fumes that rise from cooking with a non-stick pan can easily affect the bird.
Place the cage near the wall and not beside the window. Placing the birdcage beside the window can only make the bird startled. Birds have been found to prefer staying by the wall to staying by the window.
Designing the cage
Things that every Caique Parrot Cage has to have are:
Perches
Place two perches of sizes between ¾ -1 inch or 2 – 2.5 cm in the cage. One is for roosting, and the other should be placed near the food and water dishes. Caiques love to chew, so be prepared to always replace the perch when it gets soiled. I prefer wooden perches of different sizes so Caique can pick one that feels comfortable for his feet.
I would avoid metal perches as they can cool down and keep low temperature, also metal surfaces can be too smooth and hard to grip for parrot.
Toys
It would be best if you kept a lot of toys in the cage to help stimulate the bird. Caiques love to play as they have a lot of energy and will love to use it. Caique needs more toys than other birds, but you need to test your Caique with many toys to know which toy your bird prefers. Toys you can try include; wooden toys, chains, climbing ropes, and swings.
Water and food dishes
You can use a free-standing dish or dish that mounts to the side of your cage. You can decide to have two separate dishes for food: seeds and grains, the other for fruits and vegetables. Caique parrots enjoy bathing, and you should encourage bathing by providing a large dish of water for bathing and a small one for drinking.
Lining
Layers of lining are needed at the bottom of the cage to catch debris or droppings of the bird. Having layers of lining will make it easier for you to clear the droppings. Be careful not to choose linings with ink pigments because some pigments can be toxic to birds.
After the cage is set up, ensure you do regular maintenance and cleaning of the cage to keep your birds healthy.
