awww, I know what you mean. I had a quaker that flew away about 10 years ago. I cried in my bed for weeks because that bird was everything to me. Then, in grad school, I had a baby green pacific parrotlet, and a classmate's 4-yr-old daughter killed him when I wasn't looking. (We haven't talked since that incident. ) Now I have an african grey (so it's WAY more than a handful! lol they're like real children! >.<) and a blue female parrotlet . Every time they poop, I study their droppings carefully to make sure they're healthy.

So I'm a bit better at handling death as a natural part of life. I would never sell my chicks, though... I would totally hoard them. But you are right, having two birds in the apt is a LOT of work. vacuuming constantly, cleaning, spending quality time with each one, training, preparing healthy diets... I don't even take care of myself with this much effort.