SilverSage
New member
- Sep 14, 2013
- 5,937
- 94
- Parrots
- Eclectus, CAG, BH Pionus, Maximilian’s Pionus, Quakers, Indian Ringnecks, Green Cheeked Conures, Black Capped Conures, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Budgies, Canaries, Diamond Doves, Zebra Finches, Society F
As some of you may know I own 2 Pionus Parrots who were unfortunately owned by a breeder who subscribed to the idea that breeder birds need no stimulation other than breeding. I have done everything I know how to to pull them out of that, and I believe that I have experienced quite a bit of success and I look forward to even more discovery, but now I am concerned.
Sam, my male Pionus, has begun displaying increasing levels of aggression and territorial behavior. This did not surprise me, this is the first spring in years that he has not been nesting at this time. I do eventually hope to breed these lovely birds on a small scale, but 1) I don't feel their health is where it needs to be, physically or otherwise, and 2) We are moving to Hawaii next month and them nesting right now would be disastrous timing!
So as I said he is showing aggression but I expected that. I don't pick him up so it has not really been a problem for me, but now I am concerned that he may have begun plucking!
I have not seen him do it, but the front edges of his wings are showing down feathers, but I have not found enough feathers to suggest the beginning of a molt. With his health I would not be surprised if he just came that way, but it has shown up rather abruptly and seems to be spreading up and down the front edge of the wings on both sides, not a pattern I have ever noticed in molting.
They get a smorgasbord of fresh veggies and a few fruits and whole grains in the morning and pellets in the evening. They get showers, they have toys, and they are almost never confined to their cage. I tend not to interact with Sam much because of his growing aggression, but he does have 2 other birds including his mate for companionship. I have target trained him a little, but his aggression has put a halt to progress. They have endless shredding toys, I keep the cage clean, and when I leave I put on noise such as music or parrot sounds. He will be getting a full vet evaluation next month, but I don't want to add to his stress by catching him up before then since that is a mandatory visit with quarantine for the flight to Hawaii.
I really really want to head off any plucking behavior before it gets out of hand, not just for the sake of the plucking but because of the underlying stress. I would hate to think that I pulled him out of his daze just to through him into turmoil. Suggestions?
Sam, my male Pionus, has begun displaying increasing levels of aggression and territorial behavior. This did not surprise me, this is the first spring in years that he has not been nesting at this time. I do eventually hope to breed these lovely birds on a small scale, but 1) I don't feel their health is where it needs to be, physically or otherwise, and 2) We are moving to Hawaii next month and them nesting right now would be disastrous timing!
So as I said he is showing aggression but I expected that. I don't pick him up so it has not really been a problem for me, but now I am concerned that he may have begun plucking!
I have not seen him do it, but the front edges of his wings are showing down feathers, but I have not found enough feathers to suggest the beginning of a molt. With his health I would not be surprised if he just came that way, but it has shown up rather abruptly and seems to be spreading up and down the front edge of the wings on both sides, not a pattern I have ever noticed in molting.
They get a smorgasbord of fresh veggies and a few fruits and whole grains in the morning and pellets in the evening. They get showers, they have toys, and they are almost never confined to their cage. I tend not to interact with Sam much because of his growing aggression, but he does have 2 other birds including his mate for companionship. I have target trained him a little, but his aggression has put a halt to progress. They have endless shredding toys, I keep the cage clean, and when I leave I put on noise such as music or parrot sounds. He will be getting a full vet evaluation next month, but I don't want to add to his stress by catching him up before then since that is a mandatory visit with quarantine for the flight to Hawaii.
I really really want to head off any plucking behavior before it gets out of hand, not just for the sake of the plucking but because of the underlying stress. I would hate to think that I pulled him out of his daze just to through him into turmoil. Suggestions?
