I like birds but I never owned one before because I like cats and dogs more and I can't get one right now because I have a cat. So since I wouldn't keep it caged up all the time that's as good of an idea to me as it is getting pet mice. Mice are cute, but if they were to get loose it would be a disaster because my cat would think that I was bringing home lunch or dinner and if I had a Chinchilla she would probably use it as a play toy. I do want to get a dog though, but the only pet birds I have right now are outside the house. We had turkeys and red winged blackbirds today.