Budgie or Lovebird?

[Cassidy'sMom]

Do you think that budgies or lovebirds make better companions? Which is more lovable, friendlier, funnier, etc? A few days ago I got a little budgie but I have been doing a lot of reading and searching on lovebirds! I just wanted to get some opinions from some of you so I can make up my mind if I want to go ahead and get a lovebird to!!

[PowerBBS]

Well you're look'n to start a species argument aren't you. LOL.

For a companion - a budgie. I'd have to suggest a budgie. If for any reason, it's the ease and speed of socialization to you. I think budgies seem to be more friendly - however a loud environment will most likely result in a "wild bird" (this being true of lovebirds as well).

My father wanted love birds for years. This May I gave him three. He also found a budgie on his sidewalk back in June. He took it in. Now he wishes all he had was budgies. He even adopted two more budgies since. The lovebirds (these are his words not mine) "Are just not an affectionate bird. Which my parakeets are. I think I made a mistake with wanting a lovebird." Needless to say, he's pondering re-homing his lovebirds now. :(

[Eliza]

It really depends on the parrot and the people who care for it.

I've had both budgies and lovies; I'd have to say that while I hold budgies very near and dear to my heart lovebirds are my favorite of the two. Hard to say why, though... I will say that in some cases, lovebirds are a bit more stubborn, tempermental and bossy than budgies but that's not to say that budgies are more laid back ;)

Back when I had budgies I had the typical "American Parakeet" sold in most pet shops. They were not hand raised or socialized and I didn't spend a lot of time trying to make them accept human handling. That's not to say that my budgies didn't get toys and out of cage time, of course. A few years ago I decided that I missed having an avian companion and after a lot of thought (mostly debating between a Senegal and a parrotlet), I decided to bring home a hand-raised & socialized lovebird. Beetle was the love of my life and a bright spot to my day.

You may wish to visit some sites devoted to the species you are interested in, such as talkbudgies.com or lovebirdsplus.com.

IMHO, either species of small parrot can make a fine companion, just so long as you are willing to put the time into socializing it.

Since you already have a budgie (and only brought him or her home recently), why don't you spend the next 6-12 months earning that parrots love and trust. In the meantime, read up more on budgies AND lovebirds. You can certainly have a lovebird AND a budgie, you just cannot allow them to live together (both lovebirds and budgies are bossy little parrots and have no fear of anything; lovebirds in particular have been known to attack or maim birds similar in size), you *might* be able to have them out of their seperate cages if you cafefully supervise them.

Best of luck,

-e-

[whitewing]

IN my opinion lovebirds are "better" companions however they need to be handled daily or they will go wild.

Budgies, especially pet store birds can be hard to tame but they seem to stay tame a bit better than lovebirds. They too need regular handling to stay tame.

Lovebird or budgie, it's going to be work to keep the bird tame and sociable. YOu didn't say specifically, but it seems to me cost is an issue; you want a "cheap" pet bird. Well the truth is you get what you pay for.

[Cassidy'sMom]

Originally Posted by whitewing

Lovebird or budgie, it's going to be work to keep the bird tame and sociable. YOu didn't say specifically, but it seems to me cost is an issue; you want a "cheap" pet bird. Well the truth is you get what you pay for.

Actually cost is not a issue! I have a goffin cockatoo and I know that I don't want another big bird with a huge set of lungs. I also like parrotlets, conures, etc, but I know that conures can be very loud to and I want a bird that is just a little quieter, thats all! Do you have some suggestions on any other birds that might fit into that category?

[Beaks]

I like lovebirds and english budgies (an english budgie makes a very good sweet pet as does a lovebird that is raised right)

[4HAND]

While the Aratinga conures are indeed bigmouths,Green Cheeks and Black Caps are significantly quieter.
Tena

[greencinacheeks]

I would say some "quiet" conures are Green Cheeks/Black caps. i have also heard that Dusky conures are on the quieter side. thats not to say that every now and then they express them selves. I would also say that Budgies are probably more "loveable" not that love birds aren't. i have had both but love birds are just a bit more "complicated". more work goes into taming them.


good luck!!! a love bird would still be a great addition in my oppinion


~Nate

[huntress]

Well if you put it that way. I think Male Lovies make the sweetest little buddies - females often get nasty. Both budgies and Lovies can be quite noisey. Parrotles are neat and again males can be nicer although one of my sweetest is a female but males tend to talk more/sooner if at all and I feel (in my expirienced opinion) that parrotlets are the quetist of the three and yet very "fun" birdies. I have both Lovies and parrotlets and have owned many a rescued budgie and had budgies as a child - I dont care for the chatter they make now but that wouldnt stop me from rescuing one that needed it. As for taming I would say budgies a relatively harder because they a rarely handfed where as a lovie from a good breeder is ...well... my lovie and p'let babies dont have to be tamed when they go to a home unless they are a retired breeder.

[Courtzrocks]

I have found budgies are firendlier but lovies are funnier. If you wanted quiet but more fun (bit bigger though) go a gcc. I'm getting an Alex but they're not known to be extremely cuddly..maybe a cockatiel? They are nice pets.