your breeders are pets too? how did that happen? were they hand raised or parent raised? everybody says that's impossible, i always wondered why. you must have the best of both worlds.

When the nest box is up they are all business (although when Phoebe comes out she'll step up for a few scritches). But when it's down they're great little companions. I think the "breeders can't be pets" generalization may apply to many birds but certainly not all, not by a longshot :). It's not that uncommon with pionus, and I've known of parrots of other species as well. My pair were co-parented and definitely know they are parrots and not little feathered people, which is my plan for any of their babies also :).

ChiaOwl
http://www.owly.net
http://www.ittybittybirdiebites.com

Maybe it is a Pionu thing. My BHPi was parent raised, and part of a breeding pair for a couple years. Now he is an only bird and in six months has learned what toys are, and loves people attention.

That's really interesting... I just recently turned down a bronzewing breeder male, partly because I just spent a lot of time and energy taming an ex-breeder cockatoo and I want to relax for a while before I take on another bird like that... Maybe I should have taken him in anyhow.

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA

Well, Pilot is 5 years old. He was parent raised and then when weaned gotten as a companion to another older female. By 1 year old the two made it clear they were in love so were given a flight and a nest box. Pilot was 4years old when the female passed away of old age. He spent a year in his own cage in a brid room dominated by Cockatoos, mostly in pairs, before coming to me.

His regular people handling were annual vet checks, nails trimings and feedings. When his former owner had time he would spend a few minutes talking to him. But over all he had little companion bird type handling--like stepping up, being out of the cage, toys,ect.

He took to me right a way when we meet. I think part of it was due to being happy to be the focus of individual attention again. Which his possible loneiness was one of the reasons DO wanted to re-home him as he wasn't planning to get another female.

Everything I have researched on Poinus mentions how gentle they tend to be compared to other species of parrots. So I took Pilot in with breeders telling me a few things--1)breed birds never make good pets since they are to bird bonded 2)if he does tame it will take 6-12 months just to teach step up 3)he'll probable not learn to talk, ect... Well, Pilot was stepping up 15-20 minutes after arriving willingly. He started talking after 3 weeks. He started letting me rub his head after about the first month and a half.

I know each Pionus would respond differently due to past handling and the birds own interest in people. But lots of positive reinforcement goes along way with these little guys. Volume of voice is as important as tone. BHP anyway don't care for loud. A soft warm voice gets much better response then to bold a voice.

I took Pilot in thinking it would be months or even a year or so before he would seem like a pet/companion. He surprised us all. He spends most of the day on his cage, on his branch on the side of his cage, or on me. He puts himsalef in for bed at night by 8pm. He talks, gives kisses and cuddles, and is adding new words about every month or so. He has even offered some activities that I have been building on for tricks--picking up a ball, tossing a ball to me, ect...

So I would say meet the bird and see if there is any spark there between the two of you. If you get a feeling that it wants to connect with you it could well be worth it.

Dana--Pilot's perch:)