Do people ever look at you like you're crazy?

[paper_lantern]

Sometimes when I tell people all the work that comes along with having a bird they look at me like I'm crazy. Let me share a little example.

My friend came up from downstate to see me and at around 4:00 I said I had to make some veggies for Furbie's dinner.

"Why don't you just throw him some seed?"

"No parrots need to eat a balanced diet of pellets, vegetables, and fruits."

She then proceeded to give me a look as if I had just grown a second head.

"ok," she said.

"No really," I said. "And you can't just leave them in the cage either, you need to play with them and teach them tricks."

"Sure."

She reacted as if I was one of those rich people who leaves a million dollars in their will for their dog.

Has anyone ever come across something like this? Please share your experience!

[pennyandrocky]

my neighbor was visiting while i was cooking dinner and saw me fix their bowels,she saw me cutting chicken and put it in the bowels.she said "your feeding them chicken,and steamed vegtables?" i told her they eat what i eat she said"so if you have steak?"i said they get steak.she said that's crazy my birds eat better than her.they think the money i spend on treats and toys is crazy too.

[liz]

My friends know they are my kids. Those who have met them talk about them to others. My closest friends right now are the guys at the VFW post. They range from WWII to Iraq. One of the Korean war veterans brought me some paper work that I needed (I couldn't leave the house) to finish a report. Rambo met him at the door with the dogs and Myrtle flew to his shoulder. Even people who have been here before are still blown away by Rambo's greeting.

[Saerphe]

I get that look all the time from my parents. They're constantly asking if I have human friends. *sighs and rolls eyes*

My little brother hates coming into pet stores with me too, since I spend all my time fawning over birds I can't have.

[Grey_Moon]

I'm lucky in that in terms of my close friends they are all animal people and none of them own parrots, so I'm the one setting the bar for 'this is how life goes with a parrot'.
Jacko sleeps by the bed and is for all intents and purposes the newborn child in my life. She demands a certain schedule (I'm up by 6 AM) and as soon as I open my eyes I hear wings and feel the thud of eager cuddly parrot feet running up my pillow for scritches.
We eat, sleep and bathe together, the vet knows and patiently puts up with my long lists of concerns just like any mum. Generally speaking I do not spend nights apart from her, and certainly am anxious to return when I do.

My more traditional (this is my pet I am the owner, this animal is for my amusement) acquaintances and family don't get it though, not at all.

[marie83]

Most, if not all my friends love animals too but I'm still the crazy lady who loves birds. I think cuz none of them have really been round them much and we tend to meet away from each others houses that they don't really 'get' that they do much more than flap round and poop on everything despite me constantly going on about how wonderful, mischievious, fun, intelligent and beautiful they are lol.

[ljeanne]

my grown sons look at me like i lost my marbles when they visit and everyone is squawking or beeping or screaming mama and i just smile and return their stare.

[Socrates]

hahaha I can definitely relate! preparing a good balanced diet for my new birdie isn't a problem because I do the same thing with my reptiles. I swear they all eat better than I do! haha
I prepare salads for my bearded dragon and tortoise, and a turkey and chicken dinner for my tegu lizard every day. the majority of my shopping is for my animals!