New Re-homed WC Pionus

Printer bird · May 13, 2016

Hi all! We are new to the world of pionus parrots and have just re-homed an 8 year old female WC Pionus. She was fairly well taken care of but the owner just didn't have time for her since his daughter was born and she was living in the basement with attention from him only a couple times per day. She's in good shape although we'll take her to the vet to confirm.

She was very skittish when we first met her (not used to strangers) but has warmed up to me within a day - head scratches galore and calm preening on my hand. She's been slower with my husband although he hasn't been around her as much. We're both trying to spend time with her so that she hopefully will bond with us both (her previous owner said that when he first adopted her with his ex, the bird connected with his GF first and then warmed up to him within a few weeks so I hope this will be the case with us).

Do other people have somewhat gregarious WC pionus? Our green cheek liked us both but we know that's not always the case and that parrots often pick one person. It would be pretty hard for us if she wasn't willing to hang out with us both but we will take it slow and see how it goes. Happy to have advice from more experienced Pi owners. We are still missing our lovely green cheek who died suddenly just before Easter and looking to give that love to another parrot in need of a new home (I will say its weird and hard, though, lovely as the pi is!).

Piasa · May 13, 2016

Congrats on your new white cap! I think they are the best parrots there are.

I have both a green cheek and pionus (she's a female too), and though I suppose you could call both of them gregarious, it is in a completely different way. My pi is more even tempered and doesn't spook as easily, but she is also reserved and slower to trust. She is more active and playful, more independent and very stubborn. She makes people work for her affection, but once they have it, she remembers and is very loving and fun.

She doesn't seem to have mate bonding issues and has been tolerant of most people she has met (she is not very tolerant of other birds or companion animals though). I live alone, and have lived alone 90% of the time I've had her and she has never become a one person bird, though she does pick favorites.

I'm sorry you lost your little green cheek and completely understand how difficult it is to try to love a new bird when your heart is hurting and missing your friend. Your new pi is probably missing her old friends too though, and I am sure you can help each other heal.

Printer bird · May 13, 2016

Yeah, we sure loved our green cheek and are definitely approaching this from the "heal each other" perspective. So far our pionus is very sweet with me - just likes to chill and get head scratches (and makes cute little kissing sounds when I come near). She lets my husband handle her and allowed head scratches this morning but not when I am around so we're making sure he spends time with her without me around. Its good to hear that your WCP is open to lots of people! This one hung out in a basement for awhile and is not really used to having people around although she's adjusting more calmly than I'd thought. We're just trying to make sure she doesn't bond exclusively with me. We are looking forward to getting to know her - she's pretty quiet so far, hasn't really played with anything but then again, I'm sure she's still adjusting. Nice to have your perspective, especially since you own both species!

VICTORYCC124 · May 21, 2016

Piasa said:
Congrats on your new white cap! I think they are the best parrots there are.

I have both a green cheek and pionus (she's a female too), and though I suppose you could call both of them gregarious, it is in a completely different way. My pi is more even tempered and doesn't spook as easily, but she is also reserved and slower to trust. She is more active and playful, more independent and very stubborn. She makes people work for her affection, but once they have it, she remembers and is very loving and fun.

First off, congrats on your new Pi! I, too, have a Green Cheek (named Charlie, and I am so sorry for your loss) and a Blue Headed Pionus (Jewel), and also an African Grey (Baby Girl). And my Jewel has the same traits as Piasa's WC. My Pi is definitely my favorite (and I hers). I love all my birds of course, but there is something very special about the Pionus.
I believe Jewel came to me previously abused at the bird shop she was in. She was a wreck with terrible feathers, broken tail and she was very skittish & timid, and did not like other birds at all. (She still doesn't, but she's civil with our other two as long everyone keeps their to their own.)
She was very shy to begin with and remains somewhat reserved with most, but then she began testing her limits and boundaries (as they all do at some point). It was then that my kids backed off & my husband wasn't home much, so she quickly became a one-person bird. My kids can now hold her, and she will take treats from them, but I am clearly her #1. I am also the one home all day though, too. I spent a great deal of time just being by her cage and talking sweetly to her, and then offering her, her favorite treats (when she'd take them). After some time she learned that I could be trusted. After even more time, her and I have developed a strong bond. She trusts me completely, we snuggle all the time, she (almost) never poops on me anymore and she is even protective of me (not aggressive though).
So I recommend, since you want her to bond with both of you, that your husband spend lots of time talking to her and offering treats (while you're out of sight), giving them a chance to connect. I'm excited for you guys! Pionus are truly amazing, and under-rated companions, I think. BEST OF LUCK!!

Printer bird · May 22, 2016

VICTORYCC124 said:
Piasa said:

Congrats on your new white cap! I think they are the best parrots there are.

I have both a green cheek and pionus (she's a female too), and though I suppose you could call both of them gregarious, it is in a completely different way. My pi is more even tempered and doesn't spook as easily, but she is also reserved and slower to trust. She is more active and playful, more independent and very stubborn. She makes people work for her affection, but once they have it, she remembers and is very loving and fun.

Click to expand...

First off, congrats on your new Pi! I, too, have a Green Cheek (named Charlie, and I am so sorry for your loss) and a Blue Headed Pionus (Jewel), and also an African Grey (Baby Girl). And my Jewel has the same traits as Piasa's WC. My Pi is definitely my favorite (and I hers). I love all my birds of course, but there is something very special about the Pionus.
I believe Jewel came to me previously abused at the bird shop she was in. She was a wreck with terrible feathers, broken tail and she was very skittish & timid, and did not like other birds at all. (She still doesn't, but she's civil with our other two as long everyone keeps their to their own.)
She was very shy to begin with and remains somewhat reserved with most, but then she began testing her limits and boundaries (as they all do at some point). It was then that my kids backed off & my husband wasn't home much, so she quickly became a one-person bird. My kids can now hold her, and she will take treats from them, but I am clearly her #1. I am also the one home all day though, too. I spent a great deal of time just being by her cage and talking sweetly to her, and then offering her, her favorite treats (when she'd take them). After some time she learned that I could be trusted. After even more time, her and I have developed a strong bond. She trusts me completely, we snuggle all the time, she (almost) never poops on me anymore and she is even protective of me (not aggressive though).
So I recommend, since you want her to bond with both of you, that your husband spend lots of time talking to her and offering treats (while you're out of sight), giving them a chance to connect. I'm excited for you guys! Pionus are truly amazing, and under-rated companions, I think. BEST OF LUCK!!

Thanks for your reply and your good wishes! Nice to hear from people that have owned both. Dipper is really settling in well - my husband and I have both been spending time with her (alone and together) and she seems to be bonding to us both which is great. She's the most well-behaved bird I've ever had - steps up nice as you please, very calm and quiet, loves head-scratches, eats (or at least tries) almost everything we give her, only bites when she's afraid - at least so far. I hope this is who she is (she is 8 years old and from a straightforward species as people have said) as she is fitting in just great. She's everything we hoped to have in a pionus. Just had the blood work back from the vet too and its all good. We will be working on her playing as she doesn't really play with her toys in her cage very much but has been chewing up some paper and we will pick up some foraging toys for her as she likes to eat and might be willing to investigate some treats. Outside of the cage she seems pretty curious about everything but toys.

As a side note, her very sweet way of rebelling if she doesn't want something is to ask for a head scratch by bowing her head. We offer a wooden block and she doesn't want to play with it, she ducks her head so that we scratch her with it. Doesn't really want to step up, ducks her head to her feet so that we scratch her instead. Awwww.

Printer bird · May 22, 2016

Oh and here is Dipper enjoying some head scratches:

Moose · May 22, 2016

I've always loved Pis but this thread makes me love them all the more. Congrats on the new baby, but I'm sorry about your loss. I think you really did a great think that will help all of you mend.

Allee · May 22, 2016

Welcome to your new home, Dipper! Sounds like you landed in a lovely new nest!

Congratulations! Your new addition sounds adorable, thank you for giving Dipper a new home and the love and attention she deserves.

Piasa · May 22, 2016

My pi also likes to play with non-toys out of the cage. If you give it to her, it's no longer fun! However, inside her cage she does love her toys.

Some things Jimmy Bullet likes: loofah (the dried vegetable kind you can get at pet store, not the plastic shower thing), Holey Roller hanging ball (to fight!), and any sort of raffia toy that has crinkly paper in it. They are all pretty basic and Dipper can learn just by a quick chew that they are fun.

Thank you for sharing your new experiences! So endearing

I know Dipper will warm your heart in no time.

Weezerj · May 22, 2016

Lol, love the pic but the band-aid makes me wonder if there's more to this story.....

Printer bird · May 23, 2016

Thanks, Piasa, for offering some good tips for toys! I will try some of those out. I'm sure with time we will get Dipper swinging around her cage.

Ha ha, good eye, weezerj! In all parrot stories there are some chomps. When we first brought Dipper home, she was more connected with me than with my husband and she let me know that I was holding her too close to him and let me know on no uncertain terms. ha ha! We have learned that she really only bites (so far) when she feels forced into an interaction and has nowhere to go. Doesn't really use biting as a way to control us at this point - is generally very sweet. But, yes they have beaks and they will use them! I think at this point with our conure we each had a good ten chomps each on our hands!

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