Pookamama
New member
Now we have found somebody in our state who has Blue-Headed Pionuses. That was one of the birds we were considering. I have really been focusing on Timneh greys this last couple of weeks. Now that I've found some wonderful timneh breeders, and have a great breeder for the pionus (and we could visit before we made our decision) I have to seriously decide so we know.
Part of me just wonders if I am being too picky. I met an African grey (not sure if it was Congo or Timneh) in person and it was just incredible. I am so attracted by their intelligence and I've heard several people say that if we get one that's young it will grow accostomed to our very busy and noisy household.
But I also know that the Pionus is strongly reccommended as well. I know they are sweet and easy and likely for children to get along with easy. I just wonder if I get a Pionus if I'll just always still think about a grey anyway and want one later.
The other thing is-we already have a cage. It is a big California cage with one inch bar spacing. I have read that Blue Headed Pi's need 3/4 inch spacing-so I'm not sure if that's ok. So if we get the Pionus we may have to sell the cage and buy another, or figure out how to alter this one.
And also part of me wonders, and I must ask you all, am I missing other kinds of parrots that could work wonderfully? What other birds could you recommend that are likely to be:
1) not a single person bird as long as properly socialized by a few people
2) not known for agressive/moody/nippy
3) Not a larger bird. Medium is fine. Husband doesn't want small-like green cheek conure is too small.
4) Noisy is ok, unless it's grating and very loud screeching. We had cockatiels, petsitting, for two weeks. I was expecting so much more racket, but even at their noisest they made happy chirpy noises. When we visited the bird shop there was a lot of different noises going on in there and for the most part, it wasn't irritating, there was just a lot of it. If you rec a bird I will go watch youtube videos to hear what it sounds like. We do have our own house so no worry about bothering neighbors! I do realize personalities vary-so noisy wouldn't be a deal killer.
5) Ok with being around small children-we'd get a baby so it could be 'used' to the kids-we do not plan on having the kids actively handle the bird until they can prove to us they can be mature enough to be calm and show the bird the bird can trust them. The bird is mostly for me and my husband-but it will be around the kids constantly and they will be handling it eventually.
6) price range around a timneh grey or lower.
7) playful, fun to watch and uses toys a lot. I'd prefer a bird with an outgoing, active,personality.
8) Time commitment-a few hours is fine, I am a stay at home mom. The bird will likely be out of their cage for the majority of the day, I'm excited about getting perches and playstations throughout the house! I am prepared to read a lot of books and do my research and keep in contact with other bird owners via the interwebz to help with figuring out the best way to handle the bird through its various life stages. My husband has experience with owning a pionus, I myself have no direct bird experience save birdsitting cockatiels for a couple weeks, but I in general am a sensitive and gentle person and I get along well with most children and animals I meet.
thanks!
Part of me just wonders if I am being too picky. I met an African grey (not sure if it was Congo or Timneh) in person and it was just incredible. I am so attracted by their intelligence and I've heard several people say that if we get one that's young it will grow accostomed to our very busy and noisy household.
But I also know that the Pionus is strongly reccommended as well. I know they are sweet and easy and likely for children to get along with easy. I just wonder if I get a Pionus if I'll just always still think about a grey anyway and want one later.
The other thing is-we already have a cage. It is a big California cage with one inch bar spacing. I have read that Blue Headed Pi's need 3/4 inch spacing-so I'm not sure if that's ok. So if we get the Pionus we may have to sell the cage and buy another, or figure out how to alter this one.
And also part of me wonders, and I must ask you all, am I missing other kinds of parrots that could work wonderfully? What other birds could you recommend that are likely to be:
1) not a single person bird as long as properly socialized by a few people
2) not known for agressive/moody/nippy
3) Not a larger bird. Medium is fine. Husband doesn't want small-like green cheek conure is too small.
4) Noisy is ok, unless it's grating and very loud screeching. We had cockatiels, petsitting, for two weeks. I was expecting so much more racket, but even at their noisest they made happy chirpy noises. When we visited the bird shop there was a lot of different noises going on in there and for the most part, it wasn't irritating, there was just a lot of it. If you rec a bird I will go watch youtube videos to hear what it sounds like. We do have our own house so no worry about bothering neighbors! I do realize personalities vary-so noisy wouldn't be a deal killer.
5) Ok with being around small children-we'd get a baby so it could be 'used' to the kids-we do not plan on having the kids actively handle the bird until they can prove to us they can be mature enough to be calm and show the bird the bird can trust them. The bird is mostly for me and my husband-but it will be around the kids constantly and they will be handling it eventually.
6) price range around a timneh grey or lower.
7) playful, fun to watch and uses toys a lot. I'd prefer a bird with an outgoing, active,personality.
8) Time commitment-a few hours is fine, I am a stay at home mom. The bird will likely be out of their cage for the majority of the day, I'm excited about getting perches and playstations throughout the house! I am prepared to read a lot of books and do my research and keep in contact with other bird owners via the interwebz to help with figuring out the best way to handle the bird through its various life stages. My husband has experience with owning a pionus, I myself have no direct bird experience save birdsitting cockatiels for a couple weeks, but I in general am a sensitive and gentle person and I get along well with most children and animals I meet.
thanks!
Last edited:
