New to Pionus....need suggestions

[Evilbird]

Hello!

I adopted a 13 year old Blue Headed Pionus Parrot yesterday. I am new to this species and have a couple questions.

First of all...she STINKS!!! Like, the worst smelling bird I have ever touched.....ever. She has a very strong urine smell to her. She will NOT tollerate a bath, shower, misting or even wiped down with a damp towel. She wont allow me to clean her at all and makes no effort to groom herself either. She is otherwise seems healthy (have an appointment for her birdy check up later this week). I woke up this morning to her flapping and rolling around in the poo at the bottom of her cage and she is now covered in it again and seems very proud of herself for doing it. SO....whats the deal with that? Is there a way to clean a bird that goes into nervous breakdown mode at the thought of a bath? Do Pionus prefer to dustbathe rather then a water bath?

Second question is when we picked her up yesterday she had a horrible ride home. We switched her around trying to make her comfortable from a cage, a box , holding her, letting her sit on the seat but she was regurgatating and flinging it everywhere......is motion sickness common with Pionus? I have transported birds to and from vets etc many times and never ever had one puking all over the car. Anything you can suggest to make a car ride more comfortabe for her? Thank you very much

 

[Terry57]

I have a blue headed Pionus and he absolutely hated to take a bath. I read somewhere that when you turn on the vacuum cleaner they want a bath and it totally works. As soon as I turn it on, Talli starts screaming and jumping up and down and he is so excited to be misted. Pionus do have a musty sort of smell even when they are clean, but it's not that strong after they are clean to start with. As far as car sickness, he doesn't get carsick, but I would assume birds are like people and maybe some do and some don't. It also may have been stress.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

As said above they do have a natural musty smell that some people like, and some don't. At the avian vet visit they can let you know if his smell is wrong or not.

Pionus are very prone to aspergillosis(mold growing in the lungs), more so than other parrot species. It's important to have a air filter in the same room, and and to keep hints very clean and free if mold. If you're ever doing construction/renovations that can release aspergillosis spores and it's best to move parrots to another location.

 

[Echo]

My Blue Headed loves to take baths especially when the vacuum is on as well. She likes to bathe in bird baths, being water sprayed or with me in the shower. She has a scent (as all Pionus do) but it's not strong and I find it nice. However, when nervous or scared, the scent may be much more powerful and that's what you're smelling?

They are NOT dirt bath kind of parrots. She may be trying to give herself a bath.....Can you put a big shallow container at the bottom of her cage? (You should have a grate if she "rolls" in her mess).

Some birds have motion sickness while others do not. My Pionus does, so I make sure that her carrier is covered when we go in the car so that she can't see outside.

Where did you get her and how long have you had her?

 

[Birdman666]

Give her a bath anyway...

As for behaviors, these birds are very, very similar to amazons...

I call them Amazon LITE.

 

[Terry57]

Amazon Lite...TOOO funny!!!

 

[Birdman666]

Amazon Lite...TOOO funny!!!

You've got both - it fits, doesn't it?! Similar personality, just a tad smaller and not quite as excitable... ergo Amazon Lite.

 

[Terry57]

It totally fits...although Talli thinks the Amazons are Pionus Lite..lol.

 

[Evilbird]

Thanks for all your suggestions! So regarding the carsickness I have made the decision to just not take her anywhere LOL Unless a vet visit is needed in which case I will cover her cage and drive reaaaal easy like!

As for her aroma.....first thing I did was change the cage she came in. It was a cage that IMO was a bit on the smaller side for her anyways but there was no grate at the bottom. I woke up the next day to her flailing around on the bottom flapping around in her poo! Gee I wonder why she stinks... The perch she liked to sleep on was way too big for her and she would randomly fall off it when she was sleeping. Even though I don't like to change up a new birds world so soon after coming home she needed an overhaul. New cage, new correct perches, proper food and water dishes etc.

I set her up next to my Patagonian Conure boy and WOW did they hit it off!! So much so that she pitches a fit and so does he if they cant hang out together all day. Since she met her new buddy she has been preening herself and doing much better with her personal hygiene! Kinda funny. So she is a super happy girl now! She climbs all over the place, playing with all her new toys (including Zazu the Conure) and looks like a new bird!!



Here's her new buddy Zazu!

 

[Terry57]

So glad to hear that she is doing well and has a new buddy. Both your birds are gorgeous

 

[Birdman666]

Great results! It helps to have a bird buddy to show her the ropes.

Nice patti... as well. Interesting birds! I fostered one about ten years ago. Sweet thing, huge personality... (well, biter when it arrived, but sweet thing when she left...)