Is my Pionus depressed?

[SamBonPC]

I have had my cockatiel for 4 years now and adopted a pionus early in December. At first he was fine, active, noisy and affectionate (shouted when he heard my voice/ would dive out the cage for me to stroke him). Now all he does is sleep and eat. He wont come out of his cage despite it being constantly open, I remove his cover of a morning and give him food, he will eat it then go back to his highest perch then not move until he wants more food later on in the day. He hasn't made a single noise in weeks, no calls in the morning, no reactions when I arrive back home after being out. I was just wondering if this happened to anyone else, if its just a phase he is going though or if something wrong.
The man I bought him off said he was 16 months so he is now apparently around 20 months.
He has plenty of toys, some destructible, others make noise etc. and he chooses not to play with any.
Hes is on a seed diet and I add fresh apples, banana, chilli, pear for him which he also likes eating.

 

[MonicaMc]

Are you sure he's not sick? A vet visit may be in order.


Sounds like his diet is lacking in nutrients.

 

[RavensGryf]

Sounds like a vet visit is in order. Even if his diet is not the greatest, that shouldn't make him all of a sudden take a turn in behavior. Especially at that age.
He needs to be seen by an avian vet in order to get some diagnostics done. That is the only way to really get an answer of why your bird is showing a marked difference in behavior with these vague symptoms. Good luck

 

[SilverSage]

I agree, any change that drastic needs to be taken to an avian vet. There could be something different in his environment, but in general it sounds like he doesn't feel as good as he used to, and that is a huge red flag.

 

[veimar]

Hmm, I'd check with a vet just in case. A similar thing happened to Parry a few month ago when I got very sick and was in lot of pain. I stayed at home but couldn't really entertain him a lot. He was very quiet and observant. No noises for about a month or so… He would come out of his cage, but go back pretty soon and just sat there. He looked pretty scared, but so was I…
As soon as I got better I just didn't let him to stay in his cage. I took him with me everywhere - to the shower, to the dining table, outside (weather permitting)… I made a kitchen corner table his playground with food, water and toys.
Maybe you could sort of force your bird out of his cage and spend a lot of time with him?

 

[SamBonPC]

Okay thank you everyone! much appreciated, ill get him a check up strait away

 

[javi]

A vet would be the best place to start. Then get him on a better diet. The one thing i want to ask is how active are you. My pionus are pretty calm birds most of the time. Now saying that they are also active when i am. If I am watching tv they will just sit around but if I am moving all over the place cleaning or working on something they are jumping all over. I guess my point is when you get home make a huge deal about it. Sing, dance around and interact. The more energy you put out there the more of a influence it will have on your pets' moods. This is of course after the vet gives a clean bills of health.

 

[SamBonPC]

Hi, yes I'm loud and outgoing, people get annoyed with me if we spend excessive time together that's why I was recommended to get a parrot haha. when I get home I shout out their names, Mack (my little cockatiel) will start shouting and running around his cage, Bernard (my pionus) was similar until recently. Me and Mack will dance along to music and play fight whist Bernard will sit in his cage and look on.
I'm still organising on how to take him the vets (closest avian vet is over an hour away by car and I have no transport) but do want him checked out, I believe its a form of infection