which make better pets, parakeets or cockatiels?

Question

I'm want to get a bird, but I don't know which is better. I know parakeets are the most popular, but some say that cockatiels are more friendly. What do you think?

Answer 1

Depends on what you're looking for and how much time you want to spend with your bird.

Parakeets are harder to hand tame. If you happen across one that is already then they make great pets if you have a lot of time to spend with them. Since they're so little, they're fast and will not hestitate to jump into your plate or bowl of cereal etc. They will make quite the ruckus if you don't let out of their cage when they want to be. Some can learn to mimick words but that shouldn't be something you're hoping for in getting one....just be pleasantly surprised if it happens.

If you get one that's not hand tame, and you don't have the time or patience to do it yourself, get him/her a buddy. Especially if you won't be home a whole lot. They're social birds and like company. Noise level is pretty low unless it's noisy in the room their in, they try to beat the noise level so forget trying to watch tv if you keep them in the living room. It's great watching them interact with other though and the little quirreling sounds they make are music to my ears.

Parakeets generally like water so you can watch them bathe in a shallow dish inside or outside of their cage, or if they're not tame, you can do like a lot people and put their whole cage in the shower to clean the cage and watch the birds have a great time splashing around with each other. Really fun to watch.

Cockatiels are easier to tame and easier to find already tame. They must have a lot of interaction with their humans. If you're not home and available to them most of the time, I don't recommend getting one. They too can learn to mimic words and tunes with lots of repetition and praise (mine is only 9 months old and says no less than 15 phrases clear as a bell). Again, it can't be the reason you get one though, most never get past a few different whistles and a couple words.

They can spend all day sitting on your shoulder and can get nippy if you try to put them back in their cage before they are ready. Toys will be more expensive because you need bigger ones and they're more destructive. They get bored faster than parakeets too so you have to have a wide variety of toys and switch them up.

They are much noisier than parakeets. Cockatiels have a tendency to become screamers and, no word of a lie, I can hear mine across the street and 3 doors down. They are relentless. Usually covering their cage can shut them up but you can't keep them covered all the time so you pretty much have to live with it and resist the urge to give it attention when it's doing it, any kind of attention is considered praise and they'll keep doing it. Mine spends about an hour a day screaming which is a welcome amount of time considering my last tiel screamed for 10 hours a day!

All that said, I love my tiel. I love the way he cuddles with me and all the things he says. I love him more than the keets because he needs me more than they do.

Answer 2

It depends on what you're looking for. In both cases, a handraised bird is going to be FAR more tame than a parent raised one. In my experience cockatiels tend to be a little tamer, but I think that's because they're more expensive and breeders and petstores care about raising tem to be a little tamer so that they're worth the cost. I had a handraised parakeet once and he was truly tame and completely unafraid of people (something rare no matter what the breed) and one of the sweetest birds I've ever known.

So yeah. Basically I would suggest that you research both and try to discover what type of bird would work best for you. If you're looking for one who's very tame, handraised cockatiels are often much more common, but if you can find a good parakeet they're amazing too.

Good luck!

Answer 3

as a bird lover, I have to say that the parakeets make better pets in my opinion. I have had a cockatiel and he was a good bird, talked, was friendly. But after he got to be a year or so old, he started to screech all the time. If he could not see me at all times he hollered. I couldn't be out of the room, read a paper, anything that would keep him from seeing me. He got so loud that I had to keep him covered up all the time. I have had several parakeets and they are much calmer. I don't have to be in their sight all the time. They play and keep themselves busy. Maybe all cockatiels aren't the way mine was, but from what I have heard from other people they have had the same type experiences. It is really your choice as to what type bird you want. Have you tried checking it out on the internet or talking to someone at a pet store to see which is best? Good luck in your decision.

Answer 4

I was going to get a parakeet, but i ended up getting two cockatiels instead. I think that cockatiels are better becuase they are smarter and more friendly. I've heard that parakeets are more independent and they are more nippy. I love having cockatiels and i wouldnt trade mine for any parakeet. I hope that helps. good luck!

Answer 5

I have a cockatiel as they age they get a nasty temper and will bite . But when their young there nice and friendly birds. But i would rather a parakeet.

Answer 6

cockatiels are very different from parakeets in my opinion. i would get a hand-raised cockatiel. they are used to people and less skittish than parakeets and cockatiels that are not hand raised. i would also recommend assuring that they get a wide variety of foods within a healthy diet so that they can have a healthier and better life. dont just stick 'em on seeds!

Answer 7

It depends on how much time you spend with the bird and its personality, but I generally find that budgerigars (parakeets) to be the better, as I grew up with them and have gotten my love of birds from my pop who once owned a large arvery of them.

Answer 8

I think cockatiels are better. They're fun because they catch on to words and whistles easily. But cockatiels give off alot of dust which I find messy, but that's the only problem I've had. Good luck!

Answer 9

both r great but if ur u have never own a bird before get a parakeet their more easy to take care of and cost less

Answer 10

both are okay but cockatiels are smarter. They show more affection once trained and are funny. parakeets are hard to train and have a mind of their own. most are dumb.