Old but im replying anyway.
Teaching a bird to talk will also increase charisma.
When you finish teaching a bird one Chat type, you'll be able to play.
Birds, when outside, if placed in a fence won't fly away.
You can also just build a wall of some sort put a nunch if windows in, and put them in there. Make it accessible to sims only with one wall as a fence with a gate.
If you have Supernatural, Bonechilda will take care of the birds so long as she can access them. This includes Feeding, cleaning, and Teaching. She dies it for Cats and Dogs + Horses as well. No need to hire a real maid!
If you do hire a real maid, they tend to steal your small pets when they are holding on them. They may also take dragons if unnamed.
Hope this helped a bit ^^