Do birds such as Cockatiels, Ringneck, Parakeets, African Greys do better alone for a better companion?

I have always believed, and here in California, bird stores and bird breeders say that if you want a bird for a pet, for a pet that doesn’t bite, that will like you, that will bond with you and become friends with you, then you don’t buy him another bird friend. Once you buy a bird friend they become mean, want to be with their bird friend more, and will bite, and not be a companion anymore. This is so true. Don’t you think it’s true. Someone here on Yahoo Answers told me that I am 100% wrong and that I am selfish and mean for keeping birds alone, and that’ it’s against the law- actually it isn’t, LOL. Bird stores and breeders in California encourage that if you want a pet. But they say if you want a bird that you just feed, take care of, and watch, then buy him friends. What do you think?

I have found it to be absolutely true that, given a choice between a human and another bird, a bird will pick the other bird every time.
I have a hand raised English budgie, very calm and friendly. I had him by himself for over a year. He would ride around on my shoulder, and learned to speak. Has a very good vocabulary.
Then, I felt sorry for him, so I bought him a girlfriend, and he really doesn’t want much to do with me anymore. He’s still a nice bird, doesn’t bite or anything, does still pick up new words and phrases, but would prefer to be with her (i.e. if I take him out, he will fly right back in to sit with her).
I have heard of other people with similar experiences.
I think for a large, intelligent bird like a cockatoo or an african grey, it would be cruel to keep it alone, unless you have large amounts of time to spend with it. There are smaller varieties that do ok on their own. Your bird store or breeder would be able to point out which kinds.
Best of luck.

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