Word of warning

[Psittasister]

I'm sure all you caique mums & dads know anyway, but I've just been punished for being Momentarily lax with Kip, my BHC. He is 18 months old & although fiesty, he has never been aggressive. He is absolutely best mates with my 11 yr old son.

Anyway.. My son has just come in from school with a new little friend. After
asking me, he took Kip out to show his friend their parrot tricks. Kip stepped onto my sons friend's hand but then jumped to his shoulder & sharply bit his face & ear. He also bit my son's hand when he took him away from his understandably shaken friend! Both boys are fine & my son thinks perhaps Kip was protecting his family from this new person.

I have read that caiques can be unpredictable at times & take a dislike to someone for no reason, but this is my first witness of an intentional attack on a person by Kip. He has been grounded for the evening!... Hopefully in the future I will be able to prevent a
similar thing happening. I feel really bad

[CocosMomma]

I'm sure glad to see you write that both boys are fine! That must have been quite harrowing for them!

Ah, yes... I live with an unpredictable amazon, so I can sure relate! Actually, she's quite predictable, but my inability to always observe and properly (and promptly) respond to her body language is where my down fall can come at times!

[Rachel]

My BHC does that to me. he was heavily bonded with my ex boyfriend...we were fine until they became close. I still have to watch him...

Glad to hear both boys are fine

[SadennaAndFlock]

I hope your son and his friends are ok.

Yes the little rascals can be unpredicatable sometimes , there will be some early indications body posturing, feathers standing up, pinning eyes, trilling, strutting back and forth or rocking back and forth eyes just flashing it can take some time learning their body language. And caiques yes are one that either they like you or they don't no happy medium.

Also keep in mind Birds also are very good at reading energy levels and will act on it, if your son's friends even slightly seemed a bit nervouse or hesitant I am sure the caique picked up on that. And the bite to your sons may have been part of what I call Caique overload, he was already worked up and still in that over stimulated excited mode.


Also don't forget Caiques also think they are 10ft tall big and bad lol they are fearless

[SadennaAndFlock]

Caiques get on overload to which they are just very wound up and that is when you out to get pinched, nipped, bit when they are on overload they start playing rough and grabbing fingers, shirts anything they can and just keep grabbing and pulling. Once you start seeing and learning the body language it can help in keeping from getting bit thats for sure. But caiques can also throw some confusing signals to that can make it hard.

[SunnyOscar]

I have a Sunday Conure that does the same thing. One minute he is sweet and cuddly, the next he is nipping my ear. He adores me, but only tolerates my husband. I have begun to learn the signs (he was 27 when I got him and will be 30 in March)of when he will do his version of MBI (momentary birdie insanity). My suggestion is, just keep an eye on birdy behavior, and glad to hear that the boys are ok.