Would a pionus stay on a perch all day?

I've been wanting a pet bird for quite sometimes, and have spent a few years researching already. Upon reading on the generalizations of species, Pionus seems to be my ideal mate.

Here's the thing, though, if I'm gonna own a pet bird, I don't want to keep him at home in a cage all day. I would love to have him with me when I'm out at work. I have a small jewelry shop in a pet-friendly shopping mall, and I literally spend my entire day at work everyday. So, my plan is to I set up a corner with a perch or play stand with toys and food for him to hang out when he's at the shop with me, and I'll be in his sight all day long.

The questions are:

1. Will he be happy chilling on a perch all day and remain in his corner? Or will he be trying to go play and explore the whole shop?

2. Would it make a different if his wings are clipped?

3. Would it make a different i f his wings are clipped for a couple of years in his early life? And let them grow back later on when he are used to the routine, so he could fly if he wants to. Would he choose to stay in his corner still?

Thank you

Is your store enclosed on all sides, or is there a constant opening facing into the mall? I wouldn't advise doing that if there's a constant opening. I've taken my bird with me to work a few times (small business retail store) but it was its own building, and I wasn't the only one working.

Keep in mind lots of things can go wrong. Customers can spook, hurt, or steal your bird. Your bird could bite a customer and it could sue you. You could lose a sale because the customer is scared of the bird (more common than you think). Now, if you had an office at your store, it'd be much easier to keep the bird there.

I have 2 Pis, and my BHP would probably stay on a perch, the WCP would be on the floor.
I would personally be afraid someone would take one of mine, but you know your setup better than we do and could maybe make it work as long as they couldn't be spooked into flying out of the store.

There is a local liquor store here that has a parrot in the store. They have it by they register with a little baby fence around it and a sign that says not to feed fingers to the bird. It's a small shop so they are able to always see it and stop anyone who tries to climb over the fence. I've never seen the parrot flying around. I've only seen him on his play stand and occasionally on the owner herself.

My stores are enclosed on all side, and it's really small, only about 200 sq.ft. It doesn't get much traffic either, only a few visits per day. So the doors are always closed.

However, it has 2 sides of solid walls, and 2 sides of glass wall. So, if I don't clip his wings, there will be chances that he got spooked and fly into the glass wall, right?

1. Will he be happy chilling on a perch all day and remain in his corner? Or will he be trying to go play and explore the whole shop?

THIS DEPENDS ON THE BIRD, AND HOW WELL YOU TRAIN HIM...

2. Would it make a different if his wings are clipped?

YES. HE IS LESS LIKELY TO FLY OFF IF HE CAN'T GET BACK. DOESN'T MEAN HE WON'T EVER WADDLE DOWN.

3. Would it make a different i f his wings are clipped for a couple of years in his early life? And let them grow back later on when he are used to the routine, so he could fly if he wants to. Would he choose to stay in his corner still?

THIS STILL DEPENDS ON THE BIRD AND HOW WELL YOU TRAIN HIM.

If you allow him to fledge and learn to become an expert flier, you could then teach him to understand glass. My ekkies know exactly what the window is and will turn to avoid it. But I had to introduce them to each window and touch their beaks to the glass several times so they understood.

And as Mark (Birdman666) said, the quality of the training will be a huge factor. Station training would be a necessity.

Also, the small fence idea from Mimsy's post is a very good idea. Setting up a boundary, however rudimentary, would prevent most customers from getting too close to your bird. (Most, though not all, unfortunately.)

Anansi said:

Also, the small fence idea from Mimsy's post is a very good idea. Setting up a boundary, however rudimentary, would prevent most customers from getting too close to your bird. (Most, though not all, unfortunately.)

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A pionus is likely to set his own boundaries, with his beak. Threat postures will be enough to deter people from sticking their fingers too close. They are very much like amazons that way. YOU KNOW!

Even clipped, a bird could still fly into the glass.... well, clipped birds or those who haven't had a chance to learn how to properly fly are more likely to fly into glass, windows and walls than those who have had the chance to learn to fly and become experts at it.

I have a wcp and he does stay in his own area for a large part of the day, but he does fly to me. I could see it working out if he had a place by the register to hangout on a gym area or on you. I don't think one would sit in the corner with you there where it could see you. Eventually it will want to be with you. Also, my wcp can get really loud when he wants to. Just an FYI they CAN be very loud. Mine is quiet 98% of the time, usually talking and beeping all day, but that other 2% is ear piercing.

Lynsey said:

I have a wcp and he does stay in his own area for a large part of the day, but he does fly to me. I could see it working out if he had a place by the register to hangout on a gym area or on you. I don't think one would sit in the corner with you there where it could see you. Eventually it will want to be with you. Also, my wcp can get really loud when he wants to. Just an FYI they CAN be very loud. Mine is quiet 98% of the time, usually talking and beeping all day, but that other 2% is ear piercing.

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Great point! If you are bonded to your bird, he'll want to fly to you from time to time. (Or constantly if he's anything like my Jolly. Lol) So yes, the playstand should definitely be placed close to the register.

You'd have a better chance of having a bird who is content to stay where he is if he's within your immediate proximity. Not to mention that it would be safer for him, too. There are freaks out there!