Bird for grandpa

[CRToon83]

Well I have a new question. My grandfather has kept birds for decades... much longer than i've been alive. He's kept a bunch of birds including mina birds, and most recently a yellow headed amazon parrot. It recently died, it was OLD. And mean. It hated everyone except for him.

Well, my grandather told me that he would like a new bird, but he doesn't have one because of his age and how long they live. So I figured... hey... i'm about to get a conure... i'll offer to take care of it for him when he can't any longer.

He wants a bigger bird than a GCC. He has a cage that's about 30" square, probably 72" tall, with 3/4" - 1" spacing, and this would be the cage the bird would live in.

I have already crossed out a cockatoo because of their dependency and how they should only be a one person bird. But what would be a good parrot for him that I could continue to care for, hopefully by that time i'll be out of college working an 8-5.

I was thinking maybe a pinois? Or what about another Amazon... are they all mean? I found a blue naped 6 yr old amazon female priced very nicely.

[usamma]

Birds can be so good for older people! :) What about a baby cockatiel? They are not as complicated as conures and bigger birds.

[CRToon83]

He wants a bigger bird... and he has the cage for a bigger bird. I'd think 3/4" - 1" bar spacing would be way too big for a cockatiel.

[CRToon83]

I've pretty much ruled out an amazon or african gray due to noise, what other larger parrots besides pinous are good?

[slic102]

Pionus are great birds! On the quieter side too. My faves are the bronze winged pi's, but there are many other's that are just great. Also, an eclectus is a really nice bird provided he doesn't have a problem giving it lots of fresh veggies and fruits. We recently got a female, but I've always heard that males are the nicer of the 2 sexes. They are great talkers as well. Why did you say a grey would be too loud? They talk lots, but aren't known to be screamers or anything. Senegals aren't that big, but they are great birds too. Everyone I've spoken to who's had one loves them! Red bellied parrots are also really cool....about the same size as a sennie...maybe a little bigger. Alexandrine parrots are absolutely awesome birds too....and about the size of a pi I think. (not sure of their noise level though)

[CRToon83]

I'm sitting in my photoshop class at the moment bored to tears, so i've been reading up a little and it said that they were rather loud. My g'pa is in pretty good health, but i don't want one TOO loud in case something happens sooner than I plan and I have to take it still living in an apartment. I'll look into those, thanks!

[Shutterbugmom]

How about a crimson bellied conure? It's a little bigger than a gcc.

[MaryG1959]

If you get a conure please talk to your grandfather about the noise they make....possibly take him w/you as you visit them in the pet store etc.

I understand caiques are lovely birds. Tiels are great too and I highly recommend, but make sure that he doesn't have respiratory problems as tiels have powder down.

[Newticus]

of the larger birds but not huge like a macaw or most cockatoo, which are relatively easy to find, there are pionus, eclectus, the larger conures (sun, jenday, nanday, dusky), the mini macaws, amazons, greys and jardines. There are others like the vasa and hawkheads, but these are probably going to be hard to find and quite expensive (at least in Canada they are) Any and all of these birds may be loud. There are some that tend to be quieter, but that can be hit or miss.

Melanie

[Bellco]

Blue crowned conures are also larger conures that make great pets.