Cockatiel or lovebirds

Good morning dear readers
I hope this finds you well. I would like to seek your wisdom hen it comes to deciding upon the next members of my flock. Currently I have an orange winged amazon, a yellow crowned amazon, and five budgies which have been my companions for the past seven years. However I d like to add a new member to our family, either a pair of lovebirds or a cockatiel. I like cuddling and petting the birds and would like to spend a lot of time playing outside. Also Should cockatiels be kept in pairs or is it better to get just one? Thank you very much. Take care

I don't advocate any one single bird. I think it's kinder to them to keep them in pairs, especially the small species which, even when they are hand-fed, will readily revert to been just a bird with a mate.

With your experience you can go either way . It really depends what you are looking for. A lovebird can be a cuddly, playful, and michevious parrot. I think there are few parrots as cute as lovebirds! However, if you got a pair, they might choose each others companionship over yours. If you get them separately, and establish and maintain separate bonds with each, then they should be great companions for you. Cockteils are known to be cuddly, and as long as you spend adaquate time with them, you shouldn't need to get a pair. Also, if you get a female, you have to give them extra calcium as many lay eggs. They can lay eggs even if there is no male, and if they don't get enough calcium they can become egg bound. Male cockateils are known to be better talkers and mimickers, but it depends on the individual bird. Both make fantastic companions good luck!

I would go with a Cockatiel, but that's my personal choice as I'm more drawn to them over Lovebirds. A handfed baby lovebirds are super sweet babies too!!!! I find Lovebirds tend to turn mean easier then Cockatiels especially if they have a mate.

i'd go for cockatiels, they're more laid back, more cuddly, and more even-tempered and stay tame easily. males can be a bit moody when they are hormonal, but thats easily controlled through their sleep hours. however, with zons, a hormonal male tiel might mean nothing to you haha. tiels will stay tame whether in a pair or single, tiels are pretty laid back that way. they like to play, they're not OVERLY dependent on their owners and are not known to revert to being untame like lovebirds are known for. lovebirds need to be handled and played with every single day to maintain that tameness. a cockatiel, if you go away on vacation for a few days, most tiels are just as tame when you get back. they dont bite as hard and they tend to be very gentle and accepting to other birds. in fact, cockatiels are often bossed around by smaller birds like budgies lol lovebirds are territorial and like to bite the toes of other birds, bigger or smaller.


lovebirds are cute, they're funny, they make great pets, but they can be downright nasty biters. they can be cuddly, but i find the hormones in lovebirds to outweigh any other bird ever. you get a nesty hen, good luck stopping her from changing her mind, she will turn anything into a nest. lovebirds are stubborn, bold, feisty and slightly cage aggressive... but, they're a bundle of energy, playful as all heck, acrobatic, and stinking adorable. as for outside fun, very hard to find a harness to fit a lovebird.

I would get a tiel because the are very interactive and the love kisses and cuddles!