New Pi owner--behavior question

[ejgraves22]

Hi all,

Got a quick question for all of you Pionus owners out there. I've had my 4 month old Maxi Pi, Olive, for two weeks now. She seems to be settling in nicely, but today she did something that I want to make sure I interpret correctly. She called me, and I went over to her cage to talk to her. She climbed down from the top to where I was standing, sort of grabbed my hands with her beak so I started petting her head. She kept grabbing my hands as I petted her (not aggressively), so my question is, do you think she wanted me to scratch her head, or am I misinterpreting this? She was leaning towards me, so I thought her body language was saying "give me attention" but just wanted to hear your opinions on this. Thanks!

 

[Terry57]

I'm really not sure...I have a blue headed pi and the only time he grabs my hand with his beak is when he wants to be picked up. When he wants to be petted he just shoves his head into my hand, kind of like a dog or cat.

 

[ejgraves22]

Thanks Terry 57. I just don't want to do anything to push myself on my new Pi, so I was trying to figure out what that "language" means to her. I guess we will both learn from each other over time!

 

[Terry57]

Definitely! There is always something we can learn from each other I'd love to see pics of Olive!

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

Parrots often use their beaks like a third hand, so I wouldn't worry about it too much, as long as she's not biting (invoking enough pressure to break skin and make one bleed and/or bruise).

Sometimes parrots do that when they don't want you to pet them. You also have to learn body language too.

 

[Carmalita]

pi's are very much like amazons. they lead with their beak. their beak is a highly sensitive organ and they use it like an alternate hand. my bird grabs my fingers with her beak when she wants to be pet. trust me you'd know if it was aggressive. bites hurt no matter how small the beak!

 

[Tessa]

My white capped only grabs my hand or finger if he doesn't want to do something and it is to nip it. He never nips unless he is adamant about not getting back on my finger to go in nhis cage or something he does not want to do.

Head scratches, being held or any other activity with me he likes never gets any kind of grabbing or nipping form his beak. That doesn't mean that your pionus isn't showing you it is pleased with your scratches. I was just referring to my pionus' behavior compared to yours.

I can't say why your baby is doing this either unless I were there to observe the action. If it is not being aggressive and is enjoying your attention I would not worry I was doing something that will cause problems further down the road. As you have Maxi for a few months you will be more able to know exactly what it is thinking when you are together.