The Cage
Bigger is always better
There are recommended minimuim requirements for all species of parrots. My suggestion- look at the recommendation, then go at least one step up. Once you fill a 24 by 24 inch cage with 4-5 different perches, 6+ toys, food and water dishes, a treat dish, maybe a happy hut, and all the extras, the nice roomy cage suddenly doesnt look so roomy. Caiques play hard and long all day long. They use every square inch of their cage- one of mine loves to sit on his grate and roll around with foot toys. The bigger, the better. There will be no wasted space when you have a caique inhabiting the cage :)
One question commonly asked is about the bar spacing of the cage. What is the minimum and maximum bar spacing appropriate for a caique? Sources vary, depending on who you talk to or what you read, but the gernal concensous seems to be the minium requirement is half inch spacing, with the maximum being three fourths of an inch. Any larger and there is danger of the bird sticking his head through the cage bars. *side note- the site administrator got her birds a new cage with spacing that was said to be one inch spacing. She measured the thick skull of her birds and determined that it would be impossible for her birds to stick their heads through the cage bars. If you are concerned about your bar spacing, I would suggest doing the same.
There are many brands of cages- where can you begin to look? Well, listed below are some of the popular brands of cages with a short description and pros/cons of each.
HQ HQ cages are fairly popular cages and you see them for sale often. They are cheap, which is good for a pet owner on a budget, but the site owner has had poor experiences with HQ. Many people have HQ cages without problems, but others report the powdercoat chipping easily, punched bars cause for rust, and the food and water doors are easy for birds to escape from. HQ cages are also made in China, so please consider having a lead test done before giving the cage to your bird.
Kings Cages are another popular brand amoung bird owners. Kings Cages are known for their quality and durability. They come in either a powdercoated, or stainless steel finish. Kings are a bit more pricey, but I have heard very little complaints about Kings. They have both an stainless steel, powdercoated, and economy lines. Depending on the model and whether it is an economy or not, Kings cages range in price but are overall very reasonable. They are also made in Europe, so that should put minds to ease with the recent Chinese lead scare.
A and E are a line of cages owned by the store Bird Paradise. A and E cages come in powdercoated or stainless steel finishes, and are another popular brand. The site owner has one double stack 30 by 40 cage setup for her black headed caiques. While A and E are made in China, the manufacturer can prove safe levels of lead, to put owners minds at ease. A and E cages do not have punched bars, eliminating the worry of rust. A and E are fairly priced, very sturdy, and the site owner has yet to have an issue with powdercoating chipping.
Avian Adventures was another popular brand of cages. Recently its been reported that the company has been sold out and is under managment of Midwest Homes for Pets. Recent reports from owners say that the quality of these cages has dropped since the company was bought out. One feature that is appealing to owners is that all cages come apart, and need no screws to be put together. Recent models are reported to be having trouble with powdercoating chipping and dents in the cages.
California Cages California cages was once a popular cage brand, but since the company split and then changed hands, their quality has suffered. The original California Cages are stamped with the company seal. California cages are heavy duty cages, ideal for people with destructive birds. They are all one piece, making this an inconvenience for moving the cage and cleaning. The site owner did not have a positive experience when trying to order replacement parts for her cage, and has heard that others have had the same problem. It is said that the older California Cage models are much better quality then the ones available for sale today.
Island Cages Until recently, Island cages were popular in the bird community. The company has stopped manufacturing the cages anymore, but they can be still purchased by few internet vendors. Out of cage feeders, sturdiness, and no tendency of powdercoating chipping makes these cages a two thumbs up affair from the owners at Caique Crazy Forums.