How much attention do they need?

TwistedSerpent

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I've been reading a lot about many different species of birds trying to find one that fits my lifestyle, and I've read a few places that pionus are quite independant and can handle being alone for awhile. I'm just wondering what those of you who keep them think about that? I work full time and my boyfriend is gone for 4 days at a time, and other outdoor hobbies often have us engaged, so I'm trying to find out how much these guys need to be happy and content and if I'm able to give one that much.

I know its the wrong section but I have similier questions about a few of the Poicephalus group, particularly the Jendines and the Meyers. How do they compare with the pionus?
 

HalfInsane

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British Columbia, Canada
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Pixel: female senegal, hatched Dec 15, 2011
The more time, the better. I'd say a minimum of 2-3 hours a day, aiming for an average of 4/5 a day. If, say, Monday is a busy day for you so your bird gets a bit less attention that day, alright. But 2 hours a day EVERY day, is not sufficient in my opinion. I also work full time, and some days I only have 3 hours, but others I'll have Pixel with me almost the whole day. I probably average 6/7 hours a day over the course of a week.

There's also cleaning, food preparation for the bird, more cleaning, twice a day water changes, and the birds need to sleep 10-12 hours a night that must be allowed for. It takes a bit of planning some days. I sometimes have to turn down plans with friends, or force myself to entertain my bird whom has been alone for my work shift even though she's got a ton of energy and I'd rather sleep. Is she worth it? For me, yes. But you do have to make sacrifices to have a parrot.
 
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TwistedSerpent

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Would that be one on one attention, or just being out and around us when were home. Feeding time won't be too much of an issue, theres already several creatures here on similar fresh diets whom I cater too.

Also how routine-based are they? I haven't been able to find anything about that. Most days here are pretty routine, but some days will be drastically different (however there will always be time for company in the morning and evening). Sorry I just have a ton of questions, thanks for your reply!
 

HalfInsane

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Pixel: female senegal, hatched Dec 15, 2011
Would that be one on one attention, or just being out and around us when were home. Feeding time won't be too much of an issue, theres already several creatures here on similar fresh diets whom I cater too.

Also how routine-based are they? I haven't been able to find anything about that. Most days here are pretty routine, but some days will be drastically different (however there will always be time for company in the morning and evening). Sorry I just have a ton of questions, thanks for your reply!

Both forms of attention you mentioned are important to offer to a parrot. Daily one on one attention is as important as more ambient attention.

As for routine, I personally don't think extremely rigid routines are good for birds. Our routines change, and a bird that is too accustomed to X, Y and Z happening at times A, B, and C on the dot will not do well with change. A loose routine, however, is good. Try to have some constants in the birds day, but some variables as well. This will give you more flexibility, too. Birds actually seem to have a pretty good grasp on what day of the week it is. For instance, my bird knows when my days off are and expects more attention on those days. And I've only had her a month!
 
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lene1949

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Cory: Short billed Corella -
Echo: Galah -
Max: Alexandrine -
Skye: Yellow Sided conure -
Luka: Green Cheek Conure -
RIP Shrek: Quaker
My animals have no routine, as I work shift work, caring for intellectually disabled people... I also work 12 hours each shift, which means only a few hours attention on day shifts. They all do really well, considering my (for them) unpredictable work hours...

I vary Ben's (dog) feedings according to my shifts, because he stays inside, while I'm at work... So on day shifts, he gets fed at night, and on night shifts he gets fed in the morning... He's fine with that.

Max, Alexandrine, joins in my morning routine, showering, brekky etc.. and goes back into his cage, when I go to work... When I come home, he also gets out for a couple of hours... Max recognise, when I'm tired, even if I don't... He gets a bit nippy, and when that happens, I know that I'm too tired, and put him back in his cage... which is best for both of us...
 

roxynoodle

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As Lene suggested, you can give them a bit more time by involving them in your morning grooming rituals. They can come into the shower with you, or sit on the shower door/rod. They like to watch us do our hair, brush our teeth, get dressed, etc.

And once you get home, spend as much time with your bird as you can. It might like to help you prepare dinner although you need to take caution it doesn't fly into a pot of boiling water or get on a hot stove top. You can always roll the whole cage into the kitchen though so it can watch but be protected. But, not all your extra time needs to be one on one time where you are doing nothing but petting your bird. You can watch TV with them, let them play on a play gym, dance and sing with them, etc.
 
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TwistedSerpent

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Thanks everyone! You've conviced me to go ahead and put a deposit down on a baby bronze wing! This will be my first bird in 10 years (besides poultry), and the more I read about them the more I feel it could fit into our lifestyle perfectly; not to mention the beauty of the bronze wing had won me over.
 

KBEquine

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May 19, 2011
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South-central PA
Parrots
From little to big - currently 6 Linnies; 2 Budgies; 1 BHP; 2 CAGs; 2 Zons; 1 GWM. Formerly in the flock: 1 LSC2 [fostered/rehomed] RIP: 1 budgie 1 WCP & 1 sweet Pan Am
I lost my white capped Pionus recently, but he was the best bird. He was only independent to a point, however. He always wanted to be with me. In his case, me within sight distance was good enough & he was flighted, so he had a perch in the kitchen, one in the dining room (which was my office), one behind my seat in the living room. And he hated his sleeping cage, because he couldn't keep an eye on me from there.

IF you find that your little bronze wing seems unhappy & you suspect it is because it isn't getting enough attention, just one thought - many people try to place birds like that in new homes because they no longer have the time the bird needs. Rather than that, if your bird is a great companion but possibly lonely, look for a rescue with a Pi looking for a home.

Kept in 2 separate cages, yours would probably still be bonded to you, and might not even LIKE the newcomer very much. But the newcomer would have a home and your little one will have the company of someone who speaks its language when you are away.

Just a thought!
 
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TwistedSerpent

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How do smaller birds do as far as company while away? Never out with each other of course but in sight of each other? My boyfriend is thinking about getting a budgie too.

I'm in Montana, where there is very few of many things, birds being one of them, so its very unlikely I'll be able to find something more uncommon like a pi needing to be rehomed, and I wont know if I'll have the time to devote enough for two of them individually until I've gotten used to this one. We do have a rescue about 5 hours, so its definatly something I'll keep in mind!

From my thinking and planning I'm pretty sure I can keep one happily content. My scheduale varies a bit, so some mornings it will be more of a quick hello at feeding time, other mornings I'll have a couple hours with it. The days I work early I'm home early, and I see it being out with us for most of the evening, or at least for an hour or two if we have other things going on. My boyfriend is in the airforce and is current job has him away for 5 days at a time, but off all day for 5 days in between so there is that much more extra attention, although I don't know if he will have her out for much of the time yet it's at least someone there.
 

roxynoodle

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I think a budgie would be fine provided the Pi can't fly over to it and hurt it through the cage bars. Undoubtedly eventually it will go explore the new bird. Of course over here I've been worried about Rowdy flying to Pete and starting an altercation and his hurting her defending himself, but so far Pete finds Rowdy pretty frightening based on her one attempt to attack him. But, since he tries to spar with the cat daily, he will eventually get over his fear of her.
 
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TwistedSerpent

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Defiantly all outside time will be supervised, there are too many other creatutes and things over here (dogs, a cat, things with more then 4 legs, things with no legs, and a couple half open topped aquarium)
 

roxynoodle

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Definitely watch the aquariums. A lot of birds want to play in them. They could decide to bathe in them, or one amazon came into my vet's because it pulled a plant up and ate the lead weight that was holding it down.
 

KBEquine

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May 19, 2011
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South-central PA
Parrots
From little to big - currently 6 Linnies; 2 Budgies; 1 BHP; 2 CAGs; 2 Zons; 1 GWM. Formerly in the flock: 1 LSC2 [fostered/rehomed] RIP: 1 budgie 1 WCP & 1 sweet Pan Am
When I had my Pionus, I also had budgies & a couple linnies.

The budgies got supervised "out" time because they tried to torment the Pionus by landing on his cage & eating his food. The Pi was a pretty dominant little guy & it annoyed the living daylights out of him when the pesky little birds visited him.

But he learned their contact call & the male budgie learned to say, "Beaker!" which was the Pi's name.

They were good company for each other & got along, although always supervised for their collective good.
 

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