New BH Pionus owner!

[memrrigirl]

Hello All Pi Owners! I'm so excited to have adopted an almost 5 month old Blue Headed Pionus. I don't know it's sex and wondered if that is important to know as to sex related behaviours. It is what I call a "statue" bird at this point since I brought it home. It doesn't know how to step up onto my hand but has stepped up onto a perch that I hold. I don't want to push him/her too fast. Should I just leave him/her alone for a few days to get acclimated to it''s new environment and me? I needed to carry it to the food dishes b/c it wouldn't go to them to eat. Once there he chowed down and drank up which was a relief. It will let me give it a scritch-scratch on it's neck and head but not that comfortable with it. I was lucky today that it took a treat from my hand today-YAY!
Any advice you can give would be helpful. He/she is beautiful and smells soooooo sweet -like baby powder. I've owned a lovebird for 12 years and this bird is so different and low key in a great way!

[expressmailtome]

Congratulations! I hope that you enjoy each other!

Matt

[Greycloud]

Oh, I love BH pi's! Congrats. I use to breed them. You seem to be doing everything right. Don't push yourself on him/her. Keep using the perch to step up and reward with a scritch or treat. Slowly he will get use to your hand being near and will then step up on to you. More pics please!

[Millertimeoff]

My Cinnamon GCC was terrified of hands when we first got him. It took about two weeks before he stopped attacking hands that came near him. He also would not let you get him out of his cage or reach towards him in any way. For the first week I let him sit on my shoulder and hide behind my neck while I sat on my couch and after a week he started to let me get him out of his cage and stopped running from me. Now I can't even move without him flying to me and chirping. I think it just takes some time to trust you and then things will be great.

Paulie - Quaker
Puck - Cinnamon GCC

[dmiller91]

I have to laugh out loud at this one.

We collected ourselves a BH pionus about 3 1/2 weeks ago.

My husband called her a houseplant. She didn't move or want to talk to any of us for days... weeks. She will not step up and she will not step up to a perch.

Finally about a week ago she started realizing her life was very lonely. She learned to crawl out of her cage and she tries to fly to where I am. We've had to carry her because she won't step up. She's learned that we only help her do cool/fun things.

Only during the last few days has she started being so much more fun. She's playing with toys, she's calling for our attention, and she loves to camp out on a perch near me.

I have never ever encountered a bird that won't step up, to anything. I can't even coax her to my shoulder.

But we can pick her up gently by cupping her back and gently holding her while asking to put her feet on my hand. My husband likes to bring her to me because he knows that's what she wants, even though she won't step up. The other night she nestles in my hair and slept behind my ear for an hour and a half while I watched a movie. She snores!!! It was hilarious.

We were sort of worried about her at first... I think she was depressed. Finally she is acting like a normal bird. Man, she's nothing like my sun conure LOL.

Congratulations!

[Tashalee]

Oh yay! Beautiful Pionus you have there. I own a white capped pionus. He was very quiet and timid for a while when we first got him. He's still very layed back, excellent company while I'm at the computer (although he sometimes tries to attack the keyboard), while I'm reading etc. We've had him for about 5 months now and he's coming out of his shell! Talks up a storm and likes to join in on pulling legos apart with our son;)

[dmiller91]

Originally Posted by Tashalee

Oh yay! Beautiful Pionus you have there. I own a white capped pionus. He was very quiet and timid for a while when we first got him. He's still very layed back, excellent company while I'm at the computer (although he sometimes tries to attack the keyboard), while I'm reading etc. We've had him for about 5 months now and he's coming out of his shell! Talks up a storm and likes to join in on pulling legos apart with our son;)

how old is your guy?

[Tashalee]

Diane,
Crispin is about 9 months. He says "hello, crispy whisp, aaron, mom" and he cat calls. His speech isn't clear of course...has that raspy quality.

[debbielabella]

beautiful Pi! congratulations! my WC was very shy for about a month, now she runs for me when she sees me and shrieks will delight for attention, will sit on my shoulder endlessly and loves to climb on a net and play. Takes a little time for them to settle in.

[LovelySydney]

Congrats - hes beautiful!!!!