Cockatiel or Lovebird?

[EleriDragonfly]

My sister is thinking about getting herself a bird, it'll be her first bird but she has had some experience with watching and helping me look after my budgie.
She's thinking of getting a Cockatiel or a Lovebird, she has done some research on them both but is unsure which to choose, I thought I'd ask here for any advice for her. She works 4 days a week working 8 till 6, she has found a nice large cage for whichever bird she decides on.
So if anyone here who owns a Cockatiel or a Lovebird, or both, can tell me your experiences with them my sister would be grateful.
Thank you

[liz]

I would choose a cockatiel. They are wonderful little critters with a lot of love and joy to give.
I say this simply because mine are more social than my daughter's lovebird. Of course it was raised different than my tiels.

ParrotParents of Lovies would probably disagree. Both are special.

[Elizebird]

Tiel all the way. I've only had good experiences with them, while the opposite is true with my minimal lovebird experience.

[cml]

My aunt has a 'tiel, and its a really nice bird. Very friendly and about 20 years old =)! I think tiels are very good birds, and a lot easier to manage than some bigger parrots (smaller size, less painful bites etc).

[liz]

My aunt has a 'tiel, and its a really nice bird. Very friendly and about 20 years old =)! I think tiels are very good birds, and a lot easier to manage than some bigger parrots (smaller size, less painful bites etc).

I only had one tiel bite me and it had to be the worst ever. Her name was Rosie but I nick named her Pit Bull. She not only clamped down hard enough to bring blood but then shook her head to get a chunk.

Other than that the others don't bite. Rambo bit my ear lob once when he couldn't get the man who was coming too close to me. Myrtle bit my knuckle once while I was trying to untangle her from a toy. She was trying to hold onto me to get free.

The one word description of a tiel is JOY. You really can't go wrong with a cockatiel.

[Polarn]

Tiels are cool their great birds in a handy package, I love my little adopted one and he is extremely chilled and layed back. He doesn't chat though but he does some other vocal impressions such as my ringtone and my sisters whistling for the dogs.

Met quite a few Tiels and have had plenty of good interactions with them, but my experiences with lovies are so limited I can't tell wich way to go.

As for bites, I've never met a tiel able to grab my fingers really mine tried when I got him. But I got decent sized hands and a handy mans skin, nothing but a chainsaw will break it. Not true though I was helping out training a police dog acting like the fleeing their that he needed to catch and got cought by the uncovered hand couse I didn't pay enough attention, and that little cutie broke my skin...

[Snoopy_the cockatiel]

I have a lutino cockatiel.Its good to have it.They become friendly in a short span and play tricks as well.Moreover they are quiet birds.Don't scream much...lovable birds !!

[EleriDragonfly]

Cockatiel seems to be the top choice Thanks for all the information, I'll pass it on to my sister. See if she's still interested in having a bird, she looses interest in things if they are to much work xD

[Elizebird]

EleriDragonfly, if she loses interest in the bird and doesn't train it, clean up after it, handle it, keep up with it's diet, than it's not going to be a good pet. While 'tiels really don't need constant attention and are not as demanding as some of the bigger guys, parrots in general are synonymous to "WORK." A bird is most likely not for her.

[marie83]

EleriDragonfly, if she loses interest in the bird and doesn't train it, clean up after it, handle it, keep up with it's diet, than it's not going to be a good pet. While 'tiels really don't need constant attention and are not as demanding as some of the bigger guys, parrots in general are synonymous to "WORK." A bird is most likely not for her.

Agree totally, these guys can live 20 years or more but I wouldn't reccommend anyone to get a pet if they get bored easily, never mind one that is so long lived.