After much begging and whining, my parents finally allowed me to get a bird. I have done a lot of internet research and have decided I will be getting either a budgerigar (parakeet) or a cockatiel but I can not decide which one. I need input! Thanks in advance!
2006-08-14 10:51:46 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
First off, I would very strongly recommend that you get a hand raised baby bird from a breeder and not one that is being kept in a large communal cage at a big pet store. This is because it will be more tame and less likely to carry disease.
It is SO much more enjoyable to have a pet bird that wants to interact with you and doesn’t have to be tamed down to be a fun companion. That said, you will find it much easier to find a really nice, hand raised cockatiel than a budgie. I think that is due to economics. Budgies do not cost that much and hand rearing is very labor intensive. So, to hand raise a budgie and then try to be competitive is probably difficult for a breeder. It’s cheaper to just let the parents raise the babies and ship them off to a pet store. It’s shouldn’t be too difficult to find a hand raised baby Cockatiel depending upon where you live.
Budgies can make wonderful pets, but they are, in my opinion, a bit more flighty and you will most likely be responsible to hand tame it. A nice cockatiel is really an entertaining, friendly, interactive pet. If you take good care of him, your cockatiel should live into his teens. So, paying the little extra now for a hand reared, tame and friendly bird now, is well worth it.
If you want your cockatiel to speak, teach it words first, then add whistles. They are VERY good at whistling and some will prefer to whistle rather than speak. However, I taught my cockatiel, Vergil, to whistle the entire Andy Griffith Show song!
2006-08-14 11:41:03 · answer #1 · answered by Tammie R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to be careful about both of them . They can get sick in groups easily. Parakeets can be very smart and less threatening. They are smaller and cheaper to buy and maintain. My sister had one for around 10 years. It was white and blue.And it said some nasty things also. It has been said that usually only the males will talk. But I have heard that is not the case with parakeets as much. Both can get mean if they are teased. You should start out with the parakeet first. Male Cockatiels can act more aggressive and will try to dominate you. I have heard you should not let them be higher than your line of vision either. Female Cockatiels are more docile and more quiet. It's up to you.
2006-08-14 18:08:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
COCKATIELS!!!
My friend had like 5 parakeets and none of them went on her hand! They are way too crazy.
Cockatiels are VERY nice. But I should tell you that you should only get both or any if you enough time for them. Cockatiels are VERY soacial birds, they can't stand to be alone. The more you jump around, talk funny, do stupid things, the more they love it.
Also, Cockatiels are bigger in size, and just in my opinion more fun.
I got one.
they said it was a boy.
Got it a friend.
They mated.
Had 3 chicks.
(she has laid over 20 eggs in her life so far, but din't sit on all of them until the right time and basicly nothing happened) So she finally laid eggs and sat on them ALL ON HER OWN.
so now I have 5 birds.
:)
good luck!
and....cockatiels need a large cage, dont forget!
2006-08-15 02:11:31 · answer #3 · answered by bleed_black_11 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I find cockatiels to have a little more pet potential. They love to be petted, aren't as flighty, and can even learn to talk. (Well OK. Keets can too, but tiels are a little better at it.) I also like that the tiels are a little bigger. More to hold. Also often you can find handfed cockatiels. They usually think they are people and are very very tame right away. It is not economically worth it to handfeed a keet since they sell for so little.
Of course because tiels are bigger than keets, you'll need to get a much bigger cage, which adds to the expense. And the birds themselves are a little more expensive. But that is a one time cost.
Either way you can't go wrong, but I personally like cockatiels better.
2006-08-14 17:59:37 · answer #4 · answered by Robin D 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would go for the cockatiel. I have one and to tell you the truth they really learn quickly and are very friendly to humans. They even learn to speak and they whistle funny. For example mine imitates the sound of the door, cars and other birds. To follow is a good web site from were you can get some information about how to tame and train your cockatail www.cockatiels.org/articles/behavior/training
2006-08-15 09:16:14 · answer #5 · answered by blackmamba1102 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have always had Quarrians(cockatiels)for as long as I can remember they seem to be a very hardy little bird make great little companion when aquired early I find that they tend to live longer than the budgie That is my personal choice but it is up to you this is your choice I wish you luck in whatever you decide to aquire
2006-08-15 05:55:32 · answer #6 · answered by nomiadich 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had parakeets and was later told that cockatiels are much easier to handle... My parakeets weren't keen on being handled! At any rate best wishes to you... birds make nice pets = )
2006-08-14 17:59:50 · answer #7 · answered by annathespian 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My favorite is cockatiel, but they are much louder. You might ask the pet shop owner their suggestions and they will probably ask you how you plan to interact with the bird.
2006-08-14 17:57:24 · answer #8 · answered by jboatright57 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my answer would be a cockatiel,, ive had both and the cockatiel learned much faster and actually was a better pet
2006-08-14 19:39:17 · answer #9 · answered by feline 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cockateils... if worked with are very smart and funny...... I recently adopted a pair from our local humane society that were 11 1/2 years old and they are so entertaining...someone obviously interacted with them frequently...the key is whatever you get...dont let them be ignored...you have to interact with them and you will be rewarded
2006-08-14 19:39:57 · answer #10 · answered by Linda C 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋