Toys, toys toys!
We get this question all the time- what sort of toys are best for a busy bird like a caique? The answer- a lot! Lots of different toys are favored by caiques, and a wide variety is a must for your bird, since they have such short attention spans. It is recommended that that each bird have at least 5 toys in his/her cage. It is not uncommon to see caique cages practically 'packed' with toys. And the birds love it!
Caiques especially enjoy toys that can be easily shred, foot toys, and toys that make noise. One of my caiques favors a toy called a babble ball - when it moves, it makes different animal noises. She is absolutely enthralled by it. Caique owners often get baby toys that make noise to give their birds.
Foot toys are an important part of a caique cage. They love nothing better then to have a toy they can literally roll around with on the bottom of the cage, or hold and chew on. Giving your bird an extra food dish and filling it with toys to serve as a 'toybox' is a recommended idea. There are many such holders available on the market, anything from side boxes that attach to the cage, to hanging buckets that can be filled with fun goodies.
Caiques are more shredders vs chewers. This means they prefer toys that can be easily destroyed, and are usually made of more natural materials, such as woven palm leaves, yucca, soft pine, sisal, etc. During breeding season they will chew on wooden toys, but it has been noted that the behavior of the birds throughout the year reflects more of a tendency to shred then chew. There are many great options available, some well known ones include Birdie Pinatas, Woven Palm Shredders, and others.
When buying a toy for your bird, run through a mental checklist.
Will he like it?
Is it too big/small?
Are the materials bird safe?
Are there any questionable parts? (loose parts, parts that look flimsey, etc)
What is the price of the toy?
How quickly will the toy be destroyed? Is it worth the price?
Oftentimes, people get so caught up in buying fun, brightly colored toys they forget that there are also cheaper alternatives. Plastic baby keys, bottle caps, sturdy small cat/dog toys, popsicle sticks, plastic beads, all make great toys and are cheaper alternatives. Many toy vendors also offer bird approved toy parts, that can be used to make your own toys for a cheaper cost.