Behaviour of older caiques vs young

[Maria_604]

Hi, does anyone here have older caiques? How hyperactive are yours compared to when they were younger?

I have two BH caiques. They are both rescues, one came to me at around 10 years old (he's now 16) and the other I adopted recently and he's about 18.

The one that came to me at 10 has definitely mellowed out over the last 6 years. He still likes to play and do the typical caique upside down crazy wrestling, but not as often. As he's got older he also seems to prefer to just relax and sit on his favourite perches around the room or look out the window minding his own business for hours at a time.

The 18 year old caique I've recently adopted plays in his cage and loves to dig around in foraging boxes I make for him and shred cardboard. However when he's out he does a bit of exploring and then just wants to relax on my shoulder and maybe have a nap.

Does anyone else find their older caiques are more chilled out? Do you think we're conditioned to think all caiques are crazy hyperactive all the time because the ones you tend to hear of on social media are generally very young birds?

Maybe black headed caiques are just more chilled out in general than white bellied caiques? I've only met one pair of WB caiques and they were certainly a handful!

 

[Wardy]

@Irishj9 might be able to help

 

[Irishj9]

Older caiques do mellow out somewhat. In my experience they retain the need for closeness and physical contact, but no longer in a frantic way.
But there is a step change between baby beheaviour and adult beheaviour.
No baby of any species stays a baby all its life

 

[Maria_604]

Older caiques do mellow out somewhat. In my experience they retain the need for closeness and physical contact, but no longer in a frantic way.
But there is a step change between baby beheaviour and adult beheaviour.
No baby of any species stays a baby all its life

Thank you for sharing your experience. You described it really well. That's exactly how I feel my two are. They absolutely want attention and time together but they spend that time in a more relaxed way.

 

[Caiquer]

I have a 20 year old BH and I feel as though he can be as hyperactive as younger caiques, just not as frequently. It comes in waves, almost like a little kid...he will bounce off the walls for a bit and then crash for a few hours. Out of all of my birds, he is still the most high maintenance in terms of attention. I would describe his activity levels as a typical caique and certainly above that of other species.

 

[Maria_604]

Out of all of my birds, he is still the most high maintenance in terms of attention. I would describe his activity levels as a typical caique and certainly above that of other species.

100% agree on this. I work from home in the same room as my two, so I'm with them at least 8 hours a day. Most of the time I'm working they can spend out of their cages doing whatever they like. They'd both like to be out of their cages hanging out with me 24/7 if they could.

One of mine even demands to come to bed with me some nights. I have to take him upstairs on my shoulder and he sits with me in bed while I read until I can sneak him back into his cage when he's sleepy.

Caiques are definitely best suited to people who have a lot of spare time to dedicate to interacting with them.