Peachfaced vs. Fischer's

[Eeba]

Hello there

I'm new, and I would be very grateful for some advice!

I've been set on getting a small companion parrot for several months now, and I've been doing a huge amount of research, but I can't find agreement online about whether hand-raised peachfaced lovebirds or hand-raised Fischer's lovebirds make "better pets".

Some sources say hand-raised Fischer's are calmer and sweeter, and others say they tend to be much more nippy and temperamental. It would be awesome to hear from someone who's had experience with both -- but I'm happy to take any advice from lovebird owners!

 

[IolaniAviary]

It completely depends on the breeder on how friendly your bird is. A properly acclimated Lovebird chicks will not bite or be territorial, plain and simple. For example, my chicks come with a friendly guarantee.

The difference I notice is the Fischer's are more skiddish and docile. They are not the dare-devil trouble makers that their PeachFace counterparts are. I personally prefer the Peachface, they are spunky much like a Conure. However, both are amazing birds!

 

[Eeba]

Thanks for your reply!

I was originally set on getting a hand-raised peachface, but after months of searching I've found no breeders who hand-raise them within an hour's drive -- but I have found a very promising-looking breeder who splits Ficher's and masks.

I'm hoping to visit her and her birds soon -- do you have any advice on what kind of behaviour the hand-raised birds should display so that I can be sure they're "friendly guaranteed"? (other than not biting me or being territorial xD). Are there any warning signs singular to lovebirds I should look for to indicate a bird might not be well raised?

I was at a bird shop the other day, and the owner advised me so long as I could handle the bird without it being afraid or aggressive, it was fine... and I'm sure this is the case, I just have a tendency to double-check and be as careful as possible

 

[IolaniAviary]

Do not buy a hybrid. The only reason that breeder is "splitting" them is so the chicks won't be any competition in the future. It leads to infertile Lovebirds and some say health issues. You can have one shipped from a breeder, this is one of my favorite breeders who I trust personally. She's wonderful and her birds are amazing - - home

Yes there are signs, if the bird is older than 8 weeks. DO NOT BUY. A breeder who properly acclimates will have the chicks all accounted for BEFORE they are of age to go home. This way the bird does not sit and become un-friendly. I hear people complain all the time that they bought a 9-13 week old Lovebird and it bites and is terrible but the breeder claimed it was friendly and had photos. Breeders leave the chicks once they are weaned, and no longer work with them like they previously were. Also, a pet store is not a place to get a hand-raised bird. Find someone who has well handled birds and is taking deposits early on. I find all my owners by week 4.

 

[Eeba]

Thankfully, I made I mistake -- the breeder doesn't split Fischer's and masks, I read wrong ^^'

Unfortunately, shipping isn't an option for me, as I live in Australia.

I met with the breeder I mentioned yesterday, and she introduced me to one of her six month old babies (that she had decided to keep on), and he seemed beautifully so******ed and healthy (he was frightened of me for maybe thirty seconds before he stepped up and let me hold him). As far as I know, she's breeding two pairs of masks and one pair of peachfaces, so she's not over-run, and she seemed absolutely passionate about her lovebirds. She was also happy to give me a health-guarantee.

She's got a long waiting list, too, and I'm now on it

 

[Amber]

Hybrid lovebirds tend to also have an innate incompatibility with their natures and instincts inherited from the parents. It can make for some pretty miserable birds with behavioural issues that are not their fault, but a result of how they were bred and the parents selected to produce them.


I think some hybrids can be fertile, which opens a whole new can of worms about hybridisation, but that's not really relevant here unless you plan to breed them.
"Eyering/Peachfaced crosses are normally sterile mules but inter Eyering crosses are fertile"
(From Hybrid Lovebirds - The African Lovebird Society of Australia Inc )


(Good info here too Lovebirds in Australia - Brisbane Lovebirds and the site also has a good page addressing the issues of hybrids beyond the species, ie the implication for the bird who may have been produced by hybridisation and have conflicting biorythyms and plucks as a result, etc)

That aside, I hope you find your perfect bird!