Anyone have an aggressive pionus?

[pushmar]

Paco used to be so sweet. However, over the last few months he (I assume Paco is male, but I really don't know) flares up his head and back and fans his tail when I approach the cage. Oh, and he'll bite if he can. Usually this behavior is reserved for strangers. When away from his cage, he is generally fine, friendly and sweet. Usually. What's up? He's 4, and I've had him since his white cap just started forming. Also, he get VERY jealous when we show any attention to his cage-mate, a green cheek conure. He runs over and looks for attention too. If this is mating behavior, how long does this last?

[Stace]

My baby is going to be 8. He does not like it when I am in his house. Cleaning it anyway, but if he is on the floor he will step up but he will charge at my hands if he does not want to be touched. Other times he bows his head asking for his head to be pet. He is very moody. He was with someone else for about a year and she couldn't really spend much time with him because of the houseful she had. He wasn't able to get out much for fear of the others trying to get him. I have been working with him on the biting. it's been a long process but be patient and it may work out.

[jenseits]

Pionus are known to be prone to cage aggression. Continue working with him away from his cage and try to do what you can to minimize the cage territorial-ness. That may require steps like changing the layout of his cage frequently, making sure he has a playstand away from his cage, etc.

[milkevi]

my males do this when the are hormonal. I would seperate him from the GCC, he could be seeing it as his mate..in which case he is never really going to calm down. Mine would rip me apart if they could when they are displaying like this. Pionus can breed most of the year so it may not go away on its own...I would def seperate them.

[DarwinTheSun]

Am I reading it right that you have your pionus in a cage with a green cheek conure?

If so, then I would definitely get a second cage and split them up. If they get along, it could be nesty protective behavior, and if they don't get along it could be exacerbating the issue.

[smileyakamarie]

My beeker is about the same way. He loves head pets on his terms, from me that is. However, he does love my husband and gets out of the cage at anytime for him. When we are alone he comes to me with no problem and loves head rubs, the mood changes when hubby comes home. Beeker then is just happy with him and wants nothing to do with me. This we are working on, but he is winning the battle...I love the little stinker so I enjoy anytime that he gives me.
I know that may sound bad...but it works..He is a pretty good bird only screams as if I have two birds when we are eating and for the last week of working with him that is slowy going away as well....
What can I say I am a sucker for the eagle look that he sports..LOL

[honeypi]

I have an eight yr old Maxi.. He has never been a cuddly boy but he'll let me scritch his head. He HATES my ex hub & my new partner. He is also very cage possesive but once out he's pretty good at stepping up. Articles often say what sweet birds Pi's are and recommend them with kids, but when they've got the Pionus strut on, they can be demons! AND.. their bites hurt!! They don't mess about. My 12 yr old was changing his water (as he does every day) and Mocksie went straight through his finger nail - we all learnt a lesson that day!

Having said all this, I love him dearly & since he started house sharing with a BH caique a year ago he's really mellowed, they seem to balance each other out perfectly.

[becca623]

I know someone who used to breed pionus. She told me that they are a lot like amazons when it comes to aggressive behavior and hormones.