Pionus Parrots!

[hlasdf]

Heyo! I'm always trying to learn as much as I can about parrot species, and was wondering what you pionus owners can tell me about them! What are the myths and facts? I've heard they tend to be lethargic perch potatoes, but I'm assuming that can happen to all birds without proper socialization, and not just pionuses. Are they also as quiet as people say? Do they deserve the title of "gentle giant"? What else should I know about them? Thanks!

[cml]

I have a bronze winged pionus.

He's not a couch/perch potato at all, but a very active bird who loves to play with his best buddy in the world, Stitch the amazon. They fly around the appartment, play on bookshelfs, sit and look out the windows together all the time, its very unusual for them to be still when having out of cage time.
So at least for our pionus, thats a myth busted.

Leroy also loves training, and is getting better and better. He has had some trust issues that we've overcome now, but its slow going with Leroy. Thats not a species thing though, but rather because of Leroys previous conditions.

He used to be a very quiet bird, and generally, he still is. BUT, when there's screaming in our house, its usually our blue little fellow that starts it. This is because of two things mainly, he gets angry over something, or he gets frustrated when Stitch starts talking. Leroy can only say "Thank you" and "Peekaboo" whilst Stitch can say at least 10 phrases. This makes Leroy annoyed and can cause him to scream, but as with all of his screaming its over in usually less than a minute.

He is most definetely a gentle giant, and has only bitten me once, just after we got him. That was because he had gotten stuck in a lamp, and I had to pull him out, and naturally he thought I was the one hurting him and reacted thus. Since then he has NEVER bitten me, in well over a year. He can show that he is unhappy, shake his head, or occaisonally fly off, but he doesnt bite at all .

He's also a very hungry bird and eats like a dog.

Like Stitch he also loves to shower, and we shower a couple of times a week.

Hmm...if there's anything else, just ask.

[hlasdf]

I have a bronze winged pionus.

He's not a couch/perch potato at all, but a very active bird who loves to play with his best buddy in the world, Stitch the amazon. They fly around the appartment, play on bookshelfs, sit and look out the windows together all the time, its very unusual for them to be still when having out of cage time.
So at least for our pionus, thats a myth busted.

Leroy also loves training, and is getting better and better. He has had some trust issues that we've overcome now, but its slow going with Leroy. Thats not a species thing though, but rather because of Leroys previous conditions.

He used to be a very quiet bird, and generally, he still is. BUT, when there's screaming in our house, its usually our blue little fellow that starts it. This is because of two things mainly, he gets angry over something, or he gets frustrated when Stitch starts talking. Leroy can only say "Thank you" and "Peekaboo" whilst Stitch can say at least 10 phrases. This makes Leroy annoyed and can cause him to scream, but as with all of his screaming its over in usually less than a minute.

He is most definetely a gentle giant, and has only bitten me once, just after we got him. That was because he had gotten stuck in a lamp, and I had to pull him out, and naturally he thought I was the one hurting him and reacted thus. Since then he has NEVER bitten me, in well over a year. He can show that he is unhappy, shake his head, or occaisonally fly off, but he doesnt bite at all .

He's also a very hungry bird and eats like a dog.

Like Stitch he also loves to shower, and we shower a couple of times a week.

Hmm...if there's anything else, just ask.

Wow, your feathered friends sound completely awesome! It's funny how Leroy gets jealous that he can't talk as much as Stitch haha!
I've read that pionus parrots have softer beaks than other parrots, and I'm wondering if that would require some drastic change in diet or toys compared to other parrots, or if it's simply a small fact that doesn't matter much.

[cml]

Ive never heard that they should have softer beaks and Ive read a ton about them, but Stitch and Leroy are on the same diet;

Pellets, 2 feedings a day.
Supplemental veggies and fruit a few times a week
Seeds and almonds for training only.

With regards to toys, Leroy likes wooden toys as well as plastic toys, and is much more prone to destroying stuff than Stitch. There is definetely no need to get special toys.

[hlasdf]

Ive never heard that they should have softer beaks and Ive read a ton about them, but Stitch and Leroy are on the same diet;

Pellets, 2 feedings a day.
Supplemental veggies and fruit a few times a week
Seeds and almonds for training only.

With regards to toys, Leroy likes wooden toys as well as plastic toys, and is much more prone to destroying stuff than Stitch. There is definetely no need to get special toys.

Ah, so I guess it doesn't matter much then! Thanks for taking the time to tell me about them!

[pionus]

I will certainly be watching this thread closely, for I too am researching the pionus. All. The time.

I believe i read a few places that the reason the pionus' beak is softer than other birds is because of its diet of small seeds and other soft things like that in the wild.