When I told my friends we were thinking about getting a bird...

[electricboogaloo]

My son has wanted a pet bird since before he was two. We finally decided to do some research and look into it. My husband and I are really excited about getting a young lovebird to be a part of our family! So here's what my friends are saying:

OMG! A bird? No way in *$&^ would I want a bird in my house! Why don't you get him a fish instead? (um, because he wants a pet that notices he exists?)

Birds are so messy. Why don't you get a guinea pig instead? (Ha! I already have two children and a husband and an art degree. Mess is the cornerstone of our life.)

It's morally wrong to keep pet birds in cages! Why aren't you getting him a hamster instead? (Because it's morally wrong to keep hamsters in habitat thingies! Won't somebody please THINK OF THE HAMSTERS?!)

Birds are way, way too much work. Why aren't you getting him a cat? Seriously, go to the shelter and get a cat. Why aren't you getting a cat? What is your problem with cats? (Too much hair, not enough feathers :p)

What if the real thing doesn't live up to his expectations and he's totally disappointed after so many years spent wanting a live bird? WHAT THEN?? (we'll just cook and eat it for dinner, obviously)

:D Anyone else encountered bird bigots? Or are your friends nice enough to only call you crazy behind your back?

[greencinacheeks]

umm...my friends say i'm crazy for having birds...but then a few of my friends will come and see them then they LOVE them...not one of my friends has not taken back what he/she said about them. sure they are quite a bit of work but the reward is SOO much better.. WHAT KIND OF LOVEBIRD? (uhh,,caps lock...i hate caps lock) OH!!! and i breed fish and my fish notice i'm there!!!!


YAY for feathery birds!!!!

~Nate

[Eliza]

Some people like birds/parrots, some people don't.

I don't think that it's a big deal, one way or the other. People like what they like, simple as that.

[sweetpeaches]

i think as long as you, your son and your husband want to make this committment..it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks! lovebirds are sweet (at least mine is)

fyi..i only have one. if you do get more than one there's a good chance it will bond more with the other lovie than you. lovies are more of a "flighty" bird,what i mean is they don't sit still too long. where as some of the bit larger parrots will.

i would just suggest to read up before buying one. forums like these are great cause you can look at the different threads of different parrots and get a good idea what you're in for...good luck!

[pbinva]

I know of birdy bigots - I USED to be one - I always told my son - NO WAY - they are such a mess - when all he wanted was a little Parakeet years ago! Now he is asking hey what the heck - you used to say NO WAY and now we have 3 birds?????? Needless to say - I feel very badly for not letting my son experince a feathered friend before the age of 15! I am still frightend of the biggie birds (Macaws, toos etc.) and one I hope to overcome that fear of their beaks!
I agree totally with sweetpeaches though - Research, Research, Research - you cannot read enough about all of the different type of species - and then keep in mind that each bird is an individual and will have it's own temperment and attitude - but no matter what one usually falls in love with their feathered friends for life!!!!

[lilmama]

Everyone thinks I nuts for getting a bird but oh well, their loss!! My mom who's a dog person can't handle Tuc's screetch. For some reason no one believes that birds are cuddly! Tuc is not overly friendly so I can't prove them wrong :( so sad. Tuc is so sweet but he only loves his mama!

[PowerBBS]

My folks saw our Autumn and instantly decided they wanted birds as she's so sweet and social and kind.

My father for years said he wanted lovebirds. I can even remember times when I was a kid he looked into getting a pair. I looked in the paper one day and found a local breeder giving 3 of them away as she was moving and needed rid herself of 3 three month old babies. The spent a lot of money on a pretty large cage for them. Even spend months working with them to get them social. After four months of having the birds, the only regret they have is that the birds that they got were love birds.

After seeing how our Autumn is around us, they feel they should have gotten more "interactive" experience birds. Their lovebirds seem merely interested in each other than in them. They really wanted a bird that was snuggly and playful "outside the cage" like a conure or ekky & perhaps someday talk.

Please love bird owners don't take this the wrong way. I'm merely suggesting that you may want to research some other parrot types, especially if they're intention is for a younger person. Lovebirds just take a lot more time to socialize than the others and kids typically don't have that time to give.

OK now... everyone's gonna flame me for that... it's just thought or opinion tho... what you do is up to you... I'm just offering a small point of consideration.

[Courtzrocks]

My friends dont worry really, most are bird people and the others know how i feel about cats. I dont ask them why they go out every single weekend and get drunk so they dont ask me about my birds lol.

Oh and you think guinea pigs arent messy...WHAT THE!!! seems like the only time they pee is when you're holding them and if you get a male and female...WHOA you soon end up with about 30 guinea pigs and if they happen to all run away and you buy 2 girls then think again...one of our 2 girls was pregnant and it starts again lol.

[sweetpeaches]

i wouldn't flame you at all! it's just an observation of the species. as stated above i have a lovie too. she was given to me as a gift. which means it wasn't my "choice"..but i love her very much and have worked with her and she's as sweet as anything..loves to be petted, scritched, held, etc....(and remember she's an only lovie) but all that being said, she does not have as you were saying the tempermant of one of the parrots like..meyers, conures, tiels, macaws, etc...so besides peaches i got bailey my caique.
but as different as they both are, they're both very special in their own ways.

[charlieandmom]

I could care less what my friends think. They know I love animals. They always want to know do your birds fly all over the house and **** every where. Well no they have there wings clipped and they **** on me
You might want to think about a different fid instead of a lovie. Mine is not very tame but on the other hand my cockatiels are great. Good luck with your decision.