advice for blue pionus owner

I just joined the forum and would love to hear from other parrot owners. I lost my companion Senegal after many years together and had visited a pet store where there was a Blue Pionus in October 2010. There was a sign on her cage that she was shy. I spoke with the manager and no one was interested in the parrot because she was so shy and was a biter. She had never been taught to "step up." Last week I bought her. Could not stand the idea of her being in that store anymore. I've got her home where she is with me most of the time and she's making progress. She now takes food from my fingers, which she would not do initially. She hissed and tried to bite me. She will not step up on a finger yet and that may take a lot of time. She is eating well and enjoying her toys. Does anyone have suggestions for me to help me to make her comfortable. I noticed after I got her home that her wings were not clipped properly. They are clipped so short that she cannot balance herself. I am not a believer in wing clipping. I only trimmed three of my Sennie's feathers when I first got her to train her and she did fine and flew in the house. Any suggestions?

Welcome and good luck, I'm sure you'll get plenty of helpful suggestions. I'm a new parrot owner so I can probably benefit from them too.

Are they cut short or did she chew it short? Some birds tend to chew them so short they can't grow back out. That's part of the reason why I don't clip. I clipped my macaw once cause he was flying around, BIG mistake!!!! He chewed his clipped feathers so short that they can't grow back out. 6 years later now I finally got a vet to help me with that situation, she helped me pluck them out two weeks ago. I like this vet already, better then ones I used to go...

IF she's not chewing on it, I would wait until she goes through her major molt to let them grow back out. Or take her to the vet and have them pluck a few at a time IF it's in bad shape.

You can play radio or let her watch kids show to make her feel comfortable.

Welcome to the forum!!!!

Gaining trust of this bird may take longer than most as it was not soocialized. I would say to spend one on one time with the bird often using a soft voice and gently manner. Observe body language for a possible bite. Hand or spoon feeding is a good thing to do so I would keep that up. Go slow and if she hisses back off at that time.
If a birds wings are clipped by an avain vet the bird will usually not experience irritation and leave them alone. Have you had the bird for an avain vet exam yet?

Thank you so much, Spiritbird, danelvr, and MikeyTN! Your advice was very helpful. I am taking her to a local avian vet next week--I didn't want to take her to the vet nd stress her out until I got her to learn the "step up" command. I got papers that she had her vaccines and she looks healthy except for those short, short wings. Who would do that!!!!

I am happy to report that she now walks up onto my hand with the "step up" command. She seems hesitant on a finger and I think it's because the poor thing's wings are clipped so short that she's hesitant about her balance. I left her alone when she hissed per your instructions. She's now hanging outside of her cage most of the day and she's starting to enjoy fresh veggies. Apples are a favorite. She had never been fed any fresh food. When she dive bombs off her cage, if I sit on the floor she comes right up to me and crawls up my legs to my hand. I think she's going to be a happy girl or boy.

Thanks again. You all gave me the confidence to make this wonderful bird a home.