Every owner has preferences with what kind of animal to get. Some people who are out for hours a day may be low maintenance animals, where others who spend more time at home can handle high maintenance animals. Parakeets, also known as Budgies, and Cockatiels are two of the most popular bought has petted. Each bird has its differences, similarities and has different ways to care for its needs. Because of this, one bird may not be an ideal pet than the other.
If you are interested in purchasing one of these companion birds, then there are a few things you need to know. You want to be sure that you are getting a friend who you can care for correctly. Here is what you need to know to figure out which bird is best for you.
Parakeets
Parakeets, also known as budgies, are the smallest bird among the parrot species and are commonly one of the most popular pets. They are popular because they are affordable, friendly, and easy to care for. But they could also be challenging to understand, and they can mimic human speech.
History
Native to the grasslands of Australia, the Parakeet can still be found therein huge flocks. There are different types of parakeets, such as the American budgie and the British budgie. The American budgie is what most people see in pet stores.
Temperament
If acquired at a young age, they are easy to tame. Parakeets are dolce creatures and very friendly birds to have. Most usually buy these birds in pairs. It is always good to have a companion in their cage, but sometimes they can have difficulty getting along. But if they are purchased at a young age, together, most don’t have issues. Parakeets are exceptionally playful, active, and quieter than most of the parrot species.
Coloring and Markings
Commonly, Parakeets are light green with black bars on their wings, back, and head. The female Parakeets are usually tan or beige cere, which is the flesh around the nostrils and the males have a blue cere. When looking at a young parakeet, you may see black bars on their forehead, but they tend to recede with age. When they are young, they have dark eyes but become grey over time with age.
Of course, over the years, other colors have come into play, such as violet, blue, yellow, pied, albino, and classic neon green. Usually, the bright colors are the most popular to buy when picking them as pets. They are always the topic of conversation when friends and family are invited over.
Care
You want to be sure that you are purchasing a healthy, young parakeet. Usually, pet stores have older birds. You may have to go to a breeder to receive younger birds. It is recommended to purchase them young, even though they are a little more expensive, but they are easier to hand tame.
You want to look for an active, alert bird that has smooth and shiny feathers. Be sure that their scales on their feet are soft, as well as their beck. Also, be sure that their beck is not overgrown. Their nostrils should be clean and clear. You want to purchase a large cage; parakeets are playful and active creatures. There should be room for sleeping, playing, toys, and feeding. If the cage is not big enough, your bird may not feel comfortable.
The cage’s minimum dimensions should be 20 inches long, 12 inches deep, by 18 inches tall. If you don’t have room in your home for a cage of this statue, a parakeet may not be the bird for you. To prevent escapes, be sure the spaces between the bars should be a half-inch or less. Horizontal bars are the best to allow for climbing. Remember, these birds are very active; they love to climb to the tip-top of the cage. Be sure to offer perches, bars, swings, etc., for your active friend to climb and play. Add toys, like bells or balls, for them to push around. Make sure that their food and water bowls are in reach, as well.
Be sure to allow your parakeet to have some playtime outside the cage. They need to stretch their wings a little and fly in a secure place. If you are worried about the flight, you can have their wings trimmed to decrease their distance in flight.
Food
Pallet diets are the primary and healthy diet; you should have your bird consuming. Yes, we usually think of feeding them seed, but it is high in fat and should be used as a treat rather than their primary diet. You could also give them a few vegetables as treats as well, such as carrots, broccoli, corn, spinach, and beans. You could also provide them with fruit. There are a few foods you want to avoid giving your budgies, such as avocados, chocolate, sugar, and salt.
Exercise
Be sure to give your bird some flight time in a secure room. Adding plants to the room are great playgrounds for them as well as toys and swings. These birds are very active, and you need to be sure that you can give them that exercise time.
Common Health Issues to Pay Attention too
Parakeets usually develop common issues found in other parrot species, but they have a few unique health issues. Giving your budgie too many seeds could cause goiters caused by an iodine deficiency, which could cause tumors. Parakeets are also subjected to psittacosis, which is also known as parrot fever. This is caused by bacteria and can fall into scaly mites that can grow on their eyes and legs.
Cockatiels
Cockatiels are mildly different from parakeets; they are comical, cuddly, and outgoing birds; also, they have a small stature. They are talented whistlers; male cockatiels are not fearful of siren dating their favorite person. When they are not singing, they are foraging for food around their cage or cuddling up on their famous person’s shoulder. These birds are ideal for apartment living potential owners.
History
Similar to the parakeet, the cockatiel is also native to Australia. With the open native environment they have, they don’t have that screeching call that parrots, such as parakeets, have. In the wild, cockatiels are more likely to fly close to the ground to forage for food. They are also are always ready to reproduce, as well as in captivity. This is why they are cheaper than parakeets. Because they are such light sleepers, you may find your cockatiel thrashing against its cage. This is caused if they are startled; they are always on alert for predators, even in captivity. Leaving a light on can help prevent that.
Temperament
You can tell a lot of cockatiel’s emotions through its feathers. If their feathers are straight up, they are highly curious or startled. When they are happy or content, their feathers will be lightly fluffed around their cheeks. If your cockatiel has their feathers flat, they are defensive. With parakeets, you can’t tell their emotions through their feathers.
Be sure to get them toys that can be destroyed, such as paper and cardboard; unlike parakeets, cockatiels like to pick and pull things apart. You could also get hard plastic toys like beads they can fiddle with. Males like to sit in front of mirrors where they can whistle to themselves, while females want to hide in dark and enclosed places to nest.
Be sure to have their cage high enough where if the cockatiel comes to the floor of the cell, another animal that may be in the home, such as a dog or cat, can’t get to it. Cockatiels like to go to the bottom of their cage to forage for food or if they are curious about something they see.
Coloring and Markings
Traditionally, male cockatiels have a grey body with an orange around their cheeks. Their feathers on their heads are usually white with a tint of yellow. Parakeets have more bright colors, such as neon green, while cockatiels have more ordinary coloring. The females are also grey in the body, with orange cheeks, but don’t have white and yellowing around the feathers on their head. Those feathers are grey as well.
Care and Food
You want to be sure that you get a spacious cage for feeding, toys, perches, and to stretch out their feathers without touching them to the bars of the cell. Since Cockatiels tend to forage for food on the ground, be sure to cover the floor of the cage with newspaper and scatter food at the bottom.
These birds are social butterflies, and they thrive off any time that could be spent with their favorite person. Parakeets aren’t as friendly. They love to be pet and love being talked to. They will answer back with their sweet whistling.
Cockatiels diet should be pellets primary, but they can be given vegetables and some seed as parakeets. A well-cared-for cockatiel can live for 20 years.
Common Health Issues to Pay Attention to
Cockatiels sneeze; they will sneeze a few times a day, and you will see a clear discharge come out of their nostrils. If the discharge is not clear, you will want to contact a vet for medical attention. Cockatiels require more wing clippings than a parrot. Their wings grow a lot faster than parrakeets.
The primary thing to watch for is when a female lays her eggs; she does lose certain minerals and calcium her body needs when she does. Be sure to feed your female cockatiels with more calcium than your male birds.
Which Bird Works for You?
Well, that is up to you. They are both on either end of the spectrum of low and high maintenance, but they are both great pets to have even if you work long hours. It depends on the amount of attention you can give your bird friends. Cockatiels need more attention than parrots. Because they are so scalable, you want to provide them with more time to spend perched on your shoulder. A parrot needs more exercise rather than cuddle time. Both birds do need attention but in different ways.
Both birds need big cages, so you want to be sure that you have a secured room where their cage can be safe from any other animals in the home. You want to be sure that the area is secure to fly freely without getting into trouble. You don’t want to lose these pets. They are hard to find if they escape your house. Both birds love to play and be playful with other birds. You should buy them in pairs if you can handle it.
If you want a high energy animal, go with a cockatiel; if you are looking for low energy, easy tame, calm bird, you want to go with a parakeet. If you like your quiet, you want to stay clear of a cockatiel; they can be very vocal, especially in the mornings. If you are looking for a smaller bird, the parakeet is your pet then; the cockatiel is between 12 to 15 inches tall, where a parakeet is 5 inches tall.
Conclusion
Parakeets and Cockatiels are relatively similar, but significant differences in personality, energy, and stature. If you are looking for low energy, easy to tame, and train, a parakeet can be your best option. But if you are looking for more of a social butterfly, someone to curl up with you and sing to you, then you need to get a cockatiel.
Both birds are great, easy, affordable pets to have. You want to provide these birds with lots of toys, food, and water. They will do anything to be your best friend and receive your love. No matter which bird you choose, you will be happy with the outcome. Be sure to visit your local pet store or a local breeder to receive a young, bright, and active feathery friend.