To budgie or not to budgie...

[_Cass_]

Hello!

I am new to Birdboard.com! If any of you know the user "Xavier" she's my sister. Anyways, i'm looking into Budgies or Parrotlets. This would be my first bird, and I would like something smaller in size and easier to take care of! (Cage cleaning and water changing does not matter. I mean if it has a complictated food table or something etc...)

Wat do you guys think? A budgie or parrotlet for a soon to be ten year old? Thank you for you're opinions, and I look forward to reading them!!!

[Monica]

Your nine??? Wow! And yes, we know Xavier!

Parrotlets:
Norms usually $200
Stubborn Birds
Very Hyper
High Pitched Chirps
Also very cuddly
Think they are big birds in little bodies


Budgies
$10-20 (or up to $50 or so if you look into English)
Hyper
"Easier to tame"
Not really known to be cuddly
Quieter than p-lets


In the short run, budgies will be cheaper, though in the long run, parrotlets may live longer (many budgies were bred without care of the birds health in mind so budgies usually tend to come with more health problems than some other birds). Both birds have their good and bad points, though if you are looking for a bird that tends to be more cuddlier, go with the parrotlet. If you wouldn't care much for a bird that was cuddly, but enjoyed hanging out with you, go with the budgie!

[eterri]

I've had a parrotlet as well as budgies and agree with what Monica said. However, I do want to add a few things about parrotlets (pacifics in particular):

While they can be cuddly, many of them either grow out of it or just aren't cuddly to begin with. All of them will go through a nippy stage and those nips hurt a LOT! You'll have to be prepared to deal with this and not react to the bites or it will quickly go from being just a phase to a full-fledged behavioral problem.

Parrotlets are prone to feather mutilation. My little Peru became a plucker for reasons unknown and not only is this expensive to care for/treat, it is so very stressful on the owner. You spend a lot of time wondering if you're doing something wrong and wondering what you might have overlooked that could have caused it. If the vet finds that it is caused by a medical issue, it means more expense in trying to get rid of it.

Obviously, not all parrotlets are pluckers but I do feel it's important to point out that it isn't uncommon for them to do this. On the other hand, it is extremely rare for a budgie to mutilate its feathers and when it does, it's almost always for a medical reason (which is usually easier to deal with than figuring out what causes behavioral plucking).

Like lovebirds, parrotlets can be extremely aggressive towards other birds and animals and even you. They tend to become a bit cage territorial so changing things up regularly is a must. There are some people I've spoken to who always have to reach in and bring their parrotlet out with a glove to avoid being bitten. Once they have their bird out of the cage, they say he/she is much better.

Another thing: You will read that parrotlets are very quiet. Compared to the larger birds, yes they are quiet. Compared to budgies they are loud! Their call is very very shrill. It is quite like that of a lovebird's.

On the flip side, it is very possible to get a parrotlet that likes to cuddle. Many of them enjoy head scratches and some will even lie on their backs for their favorite person.

Budgies are easier to tame (in my experience) and while they usually aren't up for cuddling, they love being around their owner.

Either way, if you do your research I'm sure you're going to end up with a good pet. However, if you're looking for something with a nice even temper, enjoys being touched by humans, and isn't extremely expensive why not a cockatiel? When you get them at a young age they're very easy to tame and their body language is easy to read (because of the crest). Most of them adore people and love getting head scratches.

Also, you mentioned something about "a complicated food table?" All parrots are going to be a bit complicated to feed as any species needs to have a good deal of healthy fruits and veggies (especially veggies), sprouted seeds, pellets, and even cooked foods in order to stay healthy. (I also recommend feeding wheatgrass every week or so.) Budgies and parrotlets need to have seed in their diets but they also need a large variety.