White Bellied or White Breasted Caique
Characteristics
Length: 23 cm (about 9 inches). Green. Yellowish orange head, darker on crown and neck. White breast and belly. Primaries bluish. Green abdomen and thighs. Yellow undertail coverts. Periophthalmic ring pale pink. Eyes red, beak light horn colored, legs pink.
Social Behavior
Prefers to be kept in pairs or colonies. Young birds may be taught to talk.
Diet
All parakeets and parrots need a large variety of fresh, healthy foods, whether on a pellet or a seed diet. Beneficial foods include dark green, leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli, dandelions, and chard, as well as carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash. Healthy table foods like cooked eggs, corn, beans, pasta, and rice can also be offered. Remove perishable foods after a few hours and at bedtime. Grit, gravel, and oyster shells should never be given. A seed-only diet will result in malnutrition. Eventually, a parakeet or parrot should become acclimated to a diet containing specially formulated pellets. An AVIAN vet can help with more information.
Cleaning
Tray liners should be replaced every day and the cage bottom, fittings and dishes regularly washed with hot water and soap. Once a month, disinfect the cage with diluted bleach and rinse thoroughly. Line the tray with black and white newspaper or paper towels. It is unsafe to use pine/cedar shavings, corn cob or walnut bedding.
Fertility
Must have a nest box to roost in (35 x 25 x 30 cm; entrance diameter 6 cm) which they will use as maternity quarters as well .The female lays 2-4 eggs which hatch in about 23 days. After about 60 days the young leave the nest. During the breeding season males can be quite aggressive.
Health
All parakeets and parrots should be examined by a qualified AVIAN vet at least once a year or ASAP if any bleeding, injuries, or other signs are noted. It can be hard to tell when a bird is ill, and by the time you notice a problem, the sickness is usually well-advanced. Delaying a visit with an AVIAN vet or using over-the-counter or human medicines may be fatal.
Warnings
All parrakeets and parrots have very sensitive respiratory systems and should not be exposed to cigarette smoke, aerosols, harsh cleaning products, or other toxic fumes.
