Question about pi's as pets

[safarichick101]

I'd like to know about pionus. I really like that they are laid back and quite.
I have a few questions...


Are they known to be nippy? (their beaks intimidate me somewhat)

Are they something a 13 year old first time parrot owner can handle?

How much do the bronze wings and blue heads cost in tx?

Do they get aggressive during breeding time?

Do they go through a nippy stage?

Anything I need to know about pi's in general and also bronze wings and blue heads in general?

[debbielabella]

Originally Posted by safarichick101

I'd like to know about pionus. I really like that they are laid back and quite.
I have a few questions..


[QUOTE}Are they known to be nippy? (their beaks intimidate me somewhat) [QUOTE}
My WC Pi is extremely gentle. She has never bitten except very gently and almost apologetically if I did something that scared her.

[QUOTE}Are they something a 13 year old first time parrot owner can handle?[QUOTE}
I think that depends on the bird and the 13 year old! If you start with a baby that has had a good start in life that will help! I've heard the females stay sweeter.

[QUOTE} How much do the bronze wings and blue heads cost in tx?[QUOTE}
BW are $450 at Aves International. Lowest price I've seen, usually around $700 elsewhere. Gail is a great breeder but very busy with no office manager, and its difficult for me because I like a breeder I can chat with that will give me updates and answer questions, etc. She has never replied to an e-mail but when I call she always answers the phone and has read them. They are hard to find elsewhere. The BH, 600 - 700, because they are so beautiful and in demand. But I've noticed their price coming down a bit if you shop around because their availability has increased due to demand.

[QUOTE} Do they get aggressive during breeding time?[QUOTE}
They are related to Amazons. They strut and flare. I'm not looking forward to that but I can't imagine my sweet Dreamer ever doing that, so take what I'm saying with a grain of salt because I've only had my pi for a couple of months and she's only 8 mos old. My thought is a female will be less of a problem with hormones, but they are all individuals. When I was researching the problem Pi's I would read about almost always tended to be Maxi males, but as you know they are all individuals..

[QUOTE} Do they go through a nippy stage?[QUOTE} I just can't imagine Dreamer ever wanting to nip, but maybe I just got lucky with her.

Anything I need to know about pi's in general and also bronze wings and blue heads in general?

I've read the BW's are shyer, and more active and playful. But no experience as of yet. They take forever to wean and are harder to breed and harder to find. Not as likely to stay on a playstand and more likely to get into trouble than a BH.

Once thing I've noticed about my Pi is she prefers a quiet room and envrionment and my main living area is too noisy for her unless she is in a feisty mood. They are not perch potatoes. Yes she will perch for long periods with a beautiful loving peaceful look on her face, but she also loves to climb on a net and a playstand and play with toys, so I would never call her boring. I didn't want a WC to start with I wanted something more unusual like the BW or BH, but when you look at her in the sunlight, all the pi's have feathers that are irridescent colors subtle but so gorgeous.

good luck! hope people with more experience can answer your questions better!

[dmiller91]

I wondered about the different types too. I spent a lot of time on the website Pionus Parrot's Website (I think that's what it is). She claimed the WC's were a bit more "pushy". See below:

"I have found the White Cap Pionus to be sweet in many ways but they also can tend to be somewhat pushy, domineering, territorial as well when you compare them to the rest of this specie. Pionus Parrots can all vary in personality, keep that in mind with parrots in general."

I agree with you, I have seen some photos and I met one in person. I think they are beautiful birds!

[Jan]

DMiller - YEP! That is exactly how I said it on my site!! Let's not forget so many people get young Pionus as any parrot specie and do not see this at first but later on when they hit maturity it can come out in the bird. So much is personality based along with their home life and what surrounds them.

To answer the poster's questions...

For a 13 year old, Pionus are fine but often like many parrot species they can be more nervous with young people, they tend to sense you are not an adult. Depends on your own personality as well. Also, are you mature to care and provide for them and if not are your parents going to be there for the bird?

Yes, they can go through a nippy stage just as any parrot can and will from time to time. If you are afraid of getting bit, then buy yourself a stuffed animal type parrot!! Yes, anything with a beak can and will bite!!

Pricing on BW's or BH's can vary widely due to which part of the U.S. you are in. Probably price ranges are from $500 up towards $700 from a breeder... pet stores a bit higher.

[debbielabella]

I know your not asking about WC specifically. I wasn't interested in them because I heard they were more difficult and didn't sound as sweet. There is a 6 year old WC in our bird store in the area, he's a store bird, who is very sweet and will go to anyone.

It's true some WC can be difficult but it's often breeders who will say that and I wonder if it's because the breeding pairs are difficult. That doesn't have anything to do with the pet quality of a bird. Some species seem to be less resilient to improper care, and when they turn into behavior issues people label the species and sex as being aggressive, difficult or territorial. You may notice the species that are hardly heard of are always touted as being so wonderful and the more common ones with behavior issues. I think that's because the less common have not fallen in the wrong hands as often. All birds have potential to be great companions, it's us the pet owners who sometimes fall short, sometimes not for lack of trying, but we simply don't understand or are unable to meet their needs. It can be quite a challenge to turn around a bird with a bad start, and that is where you will often hear stories about how difficult a particular species is. Understanding a birds needs and being careful to make sure you can meet them, starting with a baby from a reputable breeder, you seldom have the issues you read about that will scare you away.

I was looking for a BW or a BH when I found Dreamer, my WC. I couldn't be more pleased with her.

Since your 13 you may want to consider what will happen when your social life takes up most of your time when your older, when your in college and trying to work part time, how much time you will have to offer. Pi's are touted to be independent, but I find my WC does need and appreciates my attention. She will yell at me to pick her up and loves to hang out on my shoulder and in my hair. I don't think they're the kind of bird that you could leave home with your parents when you go off to college without some daily interaction. I don't think they can be bounced around well either from one caregiver to another.

[Greycloud]

My girlfriend has a 15 yr old WC she has had since a baby. She is definitely a little pushy and territorial of her cage.
I used to breed Blue headed pionus and just love the species. I have one that is 6 yrs old raised from baby. Oscar is very sweet, likes to sit on the back of sofa and watch TV with us. Gives kisses and talks very well though in a radio type voice. He plays rough with bells and can be very noisey, screaming while playing. His cage is in the living room with us and he seems to like the activity. My step daughter has played with him for years, she is now 15 yo. They do tend to be shy and sometimes will take flight off of your hand for no apparent reason. He stays on his playtop on his cage very well. I would recommend for your age.
Just my opinion another favorite bird of mine for your age or anyone is the brown headed parrot. Great talkers, love to cuddle and interact with you. Both birds are in medium price range. Brown heads $400-$600 and blue headed alittle more $500-$700.

[becca623]

I don't have a pi but I've met several. A friend of mine used to breed them. She said that during breeding season they can get very aggressive and hormonal like an amazon. I love amazons. I don't think it's really that bad. I imagine that a breeding pair would be much different than a pet. I think pis tend to be sweet birds. I know of a 12 yr old girl whose first bird is a yellow crown amazon which she does beautifully with. I would think that well socialized and well raised pionus would make a good first time bird but since they live a long time you will want to take that into consideration. He or she would be with you for many, many years. Something to consider since you may go to college or move out in about 5 yrs. Your bird will want to stay with you. Good luck!

[KDK241]

Monty is my WC and he is by far the best bird I have. I got him a little over a year ago and he is now 11. He is sweet, will go to anyone and has yet to nip or bite me.
I had always heard that pi's were perch potatos too but he is far from that. He loves to climb upside down in his cage and take his toys apart or make splinters all day long.

[idrial]

How loud do they get?

I am torn between a blue capped pionus or a GCC as my next bird. I currently own a sun conure... are they louder? Mellow tends to suggest they are quiet but I don't want to assume that.

[dmiller91]

I'd like to hear more about blue heads myself. Is there any difference between pet females and pet males?

We don't have any around me, although I've seen one or two rehomes online.

Everything I've read indicates that they are very good pets.

If you have a sun idrial, the only thing you have to worry about is the pionus imitating the sun! I've looked at lots of pionus sound videos and they seem pretty quiet. Folks say they have a shrill alarm call, but I bet the Sun puts them to shame!