New pionus-need tips

[KDK241]

After much searching I have finally found a pionus! He is an adorable white capped and is so sweet. I will not be getting him for a couple of weeks but I am getting his cage tomorrow and a trip to the pet store is in order. I was wondering if there are any particular toys that pionus' like? Also, I have read some things that say they should have a happy hut or similar thing to sleep in, others say just a stuffed animal or snugglie to snuggle with and then some say they don't need anything at all. Is any of this true? lol I know that they tend to get a bit hefty and can be perch potatoes so excercise and diet are going to be taken care of. Any other advice would be appreciated as well! Are there any special things that these guys like more than others? There just isn't that much specific information out there...
I can't wait to introduce him!

[fauxbird]

as for those sleepy huts i don't like them they encourage nesty behavior,i have given her a toy once and one of those snuggle things,all she did was chew them so they fell off so i don't bother anymore,they are not big chewers mine likes anything she can shred,birdie piñatas,planet pleasures piñatas,corn husk,yucca,balsa wood,birdie bagels,those grass matts,coconut with the fiber still on,she will chew wood but only when she's in the mood,she will go for month's then all of a sudden make splinter's out of some wood,they also like toys they can preen,make sure it's one that the cotton is not thread like because those they can get caught up in,it's why i never use those rope perch's,she also likes plastic chain or those plastic moon/stars,goofy links that type of stuff,i also take my wild by nature flyer and set it on the top of the cage since it's made from soy ink she can chew it up because it's safe,if i think of anymore i will add to it oh and keep in mind they are prone to gout so not just an all pellet diet since they are so high in protien,they need seed,vegie's,sprout's and fruit's,oh and welcome to the pie club i am also adding well for me a second bird im getting a 4-month old male handfed superb parrot shipped from florida next week,so since were both getting another bird let's do the birdie happy dance

[fauxbird]

oh i forgot anything with vegtable tanned leather

[KDK241]

Thank you! I am ordering a bunch of toy making supplies and pretty much everything you listed is on my list of stuff to get. Yep, birdy happy dance!! The wait is killing me!! I'm going to have so much stuff in the cage just from waiting that I probably won't be able to fit the bird! LOL

[jenseits]

Originally Posted by fauxbird

oh and keep in mind they are prone to gout so not just an all pellet diet since they are so high in protien

I didn't know that. Still so much to learn about these guys. My white capped Mika is such a picky eater, I was so pleased that I got her on pellets. She also LOVES dehydrated veggies, but won't touch fresh ones. It has to be really dry and crumbly or she has no interest in eating it.

But she's awesome. If all pionus are like Mika, then pionus are some of the greatest parrots ever. She's super mellow, can entertain herself at length (she plays with every and all types of toys), is relatively quiet (when she yells, it's mostly in response to my sun conure screaming, and it's just a little squeak), she loves scritches in the evening, loves showers, it's like it never even occurs to her to bite me. She's just a gentle soul.

So if your WC is like mine, you can't really go wrong with any toy - big small, wood, acrylic, shredding, foraging - they're all good.

p.s. the one thing she doesn't like, and I'm sure this is just her, is the fleece snuggle corner (like the Happy Hut, but just a flat piece tied to side of the cage).

[KDK241]

Thank you also! I knew about the diet thing, low protein, low fat, lots of veggies and fruits. That's the first thing I research about a bird that I am interested in, what they eat. It's nice to know that they like pretty much the same toys. I have a couple tiels that like to think they are conures and attack and swing from their toys with a vengence so I already buy some bigger toys and the toy parts I ordered are a mix of bigger things for him and smaller for the tiels and budgies. I'm going to make some perches and a new, big play gym while I wait as well. The smaller one I have for my tiels isn't going to cut it anymore, lol.
He is a total sweetheart. His "neighbors" are a sun conure and an aviary full of finches and canaries....he mimics the canaries but not the sun, lol. He came right to me but seemed a bit nervous at first so I put him on top of his cage. I picked him up again about 5 minutes later and he came right to me and snuggled up while I was petting him. I am so excited to get him!! I never thought I would even find one. I have been looking for about 6 months now and haven't even been able to locate a breeder that is closer than a 6 hour drive. The wait is driving me insane, lol. I hope the toy stuff comes before he does, that will give me something to do!

[sweetpeaches]

Just want to say congrats on your new baby! And I'm so jealous. I would love to have a white capped pionus. I met one once and it was the sweetest thing.

[fauxbird]

LOL! i waited 9 month's with a cage all set,before i even got faux at 8 months old found her in a small pet store,in a small parakeet cage with no perch's,glad i did to as a year after they closed,she is almost 5 years old now,here's some good diet reading- PPRF - Diet Research

[KDK241]

Originally Posted by sweetpeaches

Just want to say congrats on your new baby! And I'm so jealous. I would love to have a white capped pionus. I met one once and it was the sweetest thing.

Thank you. I would love to have a caique but couldn't deal with the noise, they sure can get loud when they want to! Of course, the only time I've really been around them the woman had 4 of them in 2 different rooms so they were calling back and forth to each other but they are sooo cute!
The sad thing is that this bird is really supposed to be my Grandma's. She has wanted a bird that was bigger than a tiel and a bit more interactive only she wants me to get the bird, pay for everything but let it live with her...and she wants me to come over and take care of it everyday I think she will have to settle for visits though and since she lives next door that shouldn't be a problem, lol. I'm just glad I found him and it seems like it's meant to be. I have seen a couple before this but for some reason or another something would happen and I couldn't get them at the time. Then suddenly when I wasn't even looking, here he is! I rescued 4 tiels and one needed her beak trimmed. I made an appointment with a woman who does beak trims after getting a number of recommendations for her and after she finished she showed me her birds. I told her I have been looking for a pionus for months now and she said I could have him. She wasn't planning on getting rid of him but after talking she said she knew he would have a great home. Plus, she takes in unwanted birds so that makes space for one more
I'm going to give fair warning.....I take a TON of pics of my birds, lol. They are so sick of seeing the camera it's to the point where they start walking the other way when I take it out(seriously, lol)
Thank you to everyone for the help. I'm sure I will have more questions!

[fauxbird]

yes i like caiques to,but they are just to much on the go for me,thats why i have a pionus nice and laid back