I think you've got a great opportunity with this breeder you've found. Go visit with her and try out each bird. See which ones seem to click with you more.

From my own experience: my mom's female tiel is much more cuddly than my female p'let, but my mom's tiel will also go to anyone freely...except me! she thinks I'm evil or something. However, my mom watched a friend's tiel once, and she was just a terror. Bit everyone enough to draw blood, just wanted to be left alone at all times. It really just depends on the bird

 

Callie, my Dilute Blue female, loves people, cuddling and is as sweet as the day is long! She is, however, a huge exception to the parrotlet species. She grew up with a female Tiel and I think some of the Tiel personality rubbed off on her........

Consistently, I've found that female Tiels are quiet and most are extremely social. All mine have always been. Go to the breeder's facility and meet the birds that she has available. Your best choice is most likely the bird that chooses you.

 

That is great a breeder near you that breeds both, you can visit both face to face. The bird will pick you. I have had both, just lost our Tiel this past summer. I love both breeds, so different, but I enjoy the laid back sweet Tiel and I love the arnrey little P'lets. I have one lovey P'let, my male, Zack, he is everything in one little bird. My female Noel, doesn't really want to be handled or cuddled , but yet she is sweet and doesn't bite. Oh, I know..get one of each!!

 

I've only had one of each so I've got a teeny statistical sample.
I found my cockatiel more cuddly but definitely noisier for far longer, he was a male.
My parrotlet, also a male, is quieter and is noisy for only short predictable periods. He's friendly but doesn't like hands on. He'll sit happily on my shoulder and is amazingly happy to see me but just doesn't like touching.
My general understanding is that 'tiels are better with other birds and parrotlets can be aggressive and/or bossy with other birds.
Just my $00.02.

 

I agree go the breeders and check them out and see who picks you. I had 2 cockatiels a female who was so sweet, playful and truly wonderful also I had a male that every time you went near him drew blood and was never friendly in fact quite aggressive. My p'let is Dr. Jekly and Mr. Hyde but when she is sweet she is so sweet and comical and funny but when she is Mr. Hyde watch out. Though I would not trade her for anything. She sits on my shoulder for hours and calls to me when I get home. She picked me when I went to the breeder but I wanted a change from the tiels. But you have the perfect opportunity of checking them out together to see who is right for you.

 

u guys are right......i should go to the breeder (when she has babies) and see which ones pick me. i hope she has babies from each around the same time. and oh yeah, maybe i could get one of each! lol! maybe one day, i'm sure i will! knowing me, i probably would do that. but for now...i gotta just pick one. i have so much more to read on this site. i've learned so much just from reading the sticky on mistakes that beginners make. very informative! i was thinking "if i buy a hand fed baby, all will be well! the baby will come home pretty much ready to play and cuddle!" lol.....i learned that's not necessarily the case. i am prepared to deal with my baby no matter what his/her personality. like my budgies for instance....i was hoping they would be more "into" me....but i love them for who they are. they will eat seed and millet out of my hand and they feel comfortable with me around the cage, talking to them, giving them food and water, cleaning their cage etc. hopefully they will become more tame, but i'm not pushing the issue and i love them for who they can be.

 

I would agree with everyone else on here, go visit them, multiple times if necessary, before you pick. You are making me want to get a cockatiel now!

I have had both, I used to have three cockatiels when I was in highschool. They were very noisy because they got in the habit of screaming when they wanted attention. (They were very spoiled birds and were always outside their cage, so whenever we had to put them away and leave the room they would scream at us if we were gone longer than they thought was acceptable...haha)

My parrotlet Rio is noisy but his voice is a little more quiet so I find that it doesn't bother me, and I like it.

Of my three cockatiels I loved them all. I had a male that talked and loved to be held but didn't want to be pet. A female who was always putting her head down and begging for cuddles...she lived for attention! And a second female who liked being pet but was a little ADD bird and wanting to explore all the time.

My parrotlet now likes to cuddle and be pet...but only when he is in the mood!

I will say that my parrotlet is much more entertaining to watch. He is much more acrobatic and active, and loves to play with his toys. My cockatiels didn't really play with their toys besides sitting next to them and chewing on them. lol

 

I would agree about letting the bird pick you With that said, the tiel is probably going to be harassed by the keets (at least that's been my experience), but they'll live more in harmony than a p'let and keets. The p'let will likely harass the keets...

If you want a quieter bird, I would recommend a female as they're usually more quiet. If you want a cuddly bird, you'll have a better chance of getting one with tiel. Of the tiels that I've had over the years, they usually are cuddly (with the exception of a male that I had). The p'lets that I've had, none of them are really cuddly. They like attention and for me to interact with them... but not necessarily sit there for hours petting and cuddling, maybe for 15 minutes, but then they'll find something else to do.

 

i gotta say, it seems so hard to choose!! i think i'll get a tiel though. then maybe later i'll get 2 parrotlets so i can watch their antics together. the parrotlets are so darn cute!! of course tiels are cute too. if i were to get a plet i would've named him NutNut. it seems like a plet name to me. i would like a female tiel, but i don't think i can choose the sex since i'll be getting a baby and i don't think you can tell the sex till they mature. but i'll be happy with whatever i get. but there's another side of me that is saying "forget focusing so much on the cuddling and just get a couple p'lets so i can enjoy their clowing around, and maybe i'll get lucky and get a cuddler anyway?" pretty sure its gonna be a tiel though, lol!

 

I'm inclined to agree w/Jinx. My parrotlet attacked the cockatiel's cage we had it in at our home for a short while. The poor cockatiel seemed so innocent. My parrotlet was like a little devil, but boy do I love him! I assume parrotlets wouldn't like to be "out" with parrakeets either. You might want to ask the breeder about this.

 

I think a cockatiel would be a great choice... a female if noise bothers you. Many people also adore linnies and I think a linnie would be more likely to socialize with other birds they are pretty acrobatic and entertaining like parrotlets, so I hear!

 

For me, Parrotlet hands down!

But with that being said, p'lets aren't for everyone. I've had cockatiels and they were a lot less "testing you all the time" compared to a p'let. As others mentioned, I would try to visit breeders of both species and see which species you click with.

Cockatiels I find in general, are easier to care for. They are larger, less likely to become accidentally hurt vs a p'let. Cockatiels live longer (with taking into consideration the common things, health, care, environment etc) I found my cockatiels were more easier to train. Mine were less likely to bite, and a lot more touchy feeling, compared to any of my p'lets. They are more common and easier to find also.

However, my p'lets have just been more of a joy. I like their fiesty-ness. I think their colors are so much more vibrant. I like their stocky build and short tail. (I prefer that type of look, over long tails/slimmer bodies)...I find my p'lets are easier to get toys for as some can be made and used from everyday things. But are to small for larger species to use. My p'lets really enjoy their toys and gadgets, where my cockatiels weren't as playful. My p'lets have been way, way more comical. They aren't as wasteful, I've found compared to my cockatiels. My cockatiels were a lot more messy, I think. P'lets are harder to find and more unique of a species. I always have people comment on my birds how they're so small and unique looking. I really could go on for pages regarding p'lets. I think they are great birds. They are to me the best species out there. I really feel no other species compares.

Good luck on your decision! If you pick the bird that best suits you, you wont be unhappy.

Just want to add: My cockatiels were more into being touched, but my p'lets all have been more into being with me. My cockatiels wouldn't overly care if I left the room, they liked almost anyone. My p'lets right away are always wanting to know where I am if they can't see me. When I get home they happily and excitedly always greet me. My cockatiels did to an extent, but nothing like my p'lets. I like that. My p'lets never liked being touched, where my cockatiels could sit for hours, it seemed getting head rubs. But my p'lets love being on my shoulder. My cockatiels did to an extent but nothing like my p'lets. They have sat for hours on my shoulder, contently preening away and just hanging out. I am my p'lets favorite toy. My p'lets are more of a "one person bird", where my cockatiels usually would let anyone handle them. I prefer the "one person bird" style better. Because I have family members that just aren't into birds. My p'lets leave them alone, my cockatiels usually wouldn't.