Pionus question

[Slyons]

My Pi "Pickles" (female, dna tested) was hatched July 2008, so she is now 1 1/2 yrs old. She is starting to strutt a lot more and has a new signature move- she has this head flip (flips her head behind her, like she is scratching her back with the back of her head). I know not to approach her when she is strutting, as I will get bitten. However, the same seems to apply when she is doing her head flip as she lunges at me if I go near her when she is making this move. All this strutting and head flipping passes in a few minutes and she is sweet as pie again. Just wondering if this is hormonal behavior? and if so, I maybe should move my lovebird, whom shares a very large cage with her, to another cage? Thanks for your advise.

[greycloud]

Hi, what species of PI is Pickles? I use to breed several species. Wing flipping, strutting are both sexualy behaviors. The head movement is not common as sexual. Keeping a Pi and a lovebird together is an accident waiting to happen. However, many people are successful with interspecies habitation. The lovebird could be sparking this sexual behavior and Pickles could become more territorial due to it. She could see you as an intrusion in her relationship. Or, she could take things out on the lovebird. 1 1/2 is still young. Sexual maturity usually occurs around 3-5 years, but she could be sparked by the lovebird. I recommend giving them each their own cage but within view of eachother. If they get along well they can be out together under supervision.

[Slyons]

Pickles is a maximillion pionus. My lovebird was my first bird. He was a rescue (part of a breeding pair, but mate became eggbound and died) so I know he is a "he". He is 5 yrs old. I initially had them in separate cages, then got a very large flight cage- with a divider, and kept them in separate sections, but removed the divider under supervision. They did so well together, that I took the cage apart and made it 1/2 the size, and they have been sharing that cage for past year. (it is still a large cage, at 1/2 the size). I now have a CAG, which of course has his own cage (never to cohabitate with my other two!) and have less room in the house, for cages, so it would be difficult to set up the double flight cage like before. I still have their individual cages, but they are smaller than what they are currently used to... I suspect you are right though, and would hate to have anything happen to either of them. My Sunday project will be to set up their old cages.

My Pi is such a joy! She is the only bird that was NOT a rescue, I got her jsut after she was weaned, so I am her only owner. I trained her to use a flight suit, so when the weather is nice, I take her for outtings- she rides in the car, goes to the store (pet store) with me, etc. She is very friendly bird!

[greycloud]

Pickles sounds like a real sweetheart. I think it is best that you separate them. Expect some noise on thier part.

[parrotforlife]

i would definatly seprate them

[Slyons]

I did seperate them this past weekend, and neither seems to be terribly put out, eventhough cages are smaller than what they are used to. All my birds spend a lot of time outside their cages because I am lucky enough to have the kind of job that lets me spend about about 1/2 my work day at an office in my home. Thanks for the good advice!