Lovebirds species breeding

[Breeder]

hey, just wonderin: there are 9 species of lovebirds. Can any of these breed together? Maybe live together in the same cage?

[birdlover912]

Of those 9 species, only 3 are available in the pet trade: the peachfaced, masked, and fischers. My AJ is proof that differing species can breed--his father was a peachface and his mother was a masked.


Just because different species can breed, doesn't mean anyone should be doing it. Because we cannot import any more pure, wild lovebirds into captivity anymore, our gene pools are limited. By mixing species, you are lessening that already small pool. Don't get me wrong--there is NOTHING wrong with hybrid lovebirds--I love my little AJ to death! Just people should not go out making more hybrids...especially with the shortage of homes for all birds.

Lovebirds can be very aggressive and territorial. In my opinion, they should never be housed together unless they are a bonded pair. Even then, you hear about the occasional "accident." This is especially true when mixing species...it just is not worth it. In addition, lovebirds are very high energy and need large cages. To comfortable house more than one, I would only feel that they had enough space in a large flight cage or an aviary.

[expressmailtome]

The black cheecked and abyssinian lovebirds are also available in the US. I am not sure about in Cyprus. They can breed together as birdlover912 said.

Matt

[Breeder]

I have a 1m x 1m x 1m cage and wondering if i could mix any other species (lovebirds) with my fischers

[expressmailtome]

Just be careful especially with peachface lovebirds. They can be very cage aggressive. I am not sure if that size cage would be big enough to mix different species.

Matt

[Breeder]

Hmmm, ok, then better make other cage, right?

[expressmailtome]

You could probably get two pairs in that cage. The eye ring species are less aggressive, however I am not sure about how aggressive they would become if you were breeding them.

Matt

[mary313]

I have heard that different species can successfully breed, and produce a hybrid (as already stated). But I have also heard that those hybrid babies will be sterile, and that is bad for a lovebird because of their need to produce offspring.

Can anyone confirm or add anything to that?

[mary313]

Originally Posted by birdlover912

Of those 9 species, only 3 are available in the pet trade: the peachfaced, masked, and fischers. My AJ is proof that differing species can breed--his father was a peachface and his mother was a masked.


Just because different species can breed, doesn't mean anyone should be doing it. Because we cannot import any more pure, wild lovebirds into captivity anymore, our gene pools are limited. By mixing species, you are lessening that already small pool. Don't get me wrong--there is NOTHING wrong with hybrid lovebirds--I love my little AJ to death! Just people should not go out making more hybrids...especially with the shortage of homes for all birds.

Lovebirds can be very aggressive and territorial. In my opinion, they should never be housed together unless they are a bonded pair. Even then, you hear about the occasional "accident." This is especially true when mixing species...it just is not worth it. In addition, lovebirds are very high energy and need large cages. To comfortable house more than one, I would only feel that they had enough space in a large flight cage or an aviary.

Aj is a very beautiful bird!!

[Breeder]

Originally Posted by mary313

But I have also heard that those hybrid babies will be sterile, and that is bad for a lovebird because of their need to produce offspring.

What? Is that true? Then, it's bad for breeding mixing species