• Scientific Name: Agapornis roseicollis
• Common Name/s: PEACH FACED LOVEBIRD
• Sub Species in country / area of origin: Nine different species/sub-species of lovebirds occur in the wild in Africa and Madagascar.
• Origin / Distribution: South-west Africa.
• Habitat In Wild: Arid coastal plains and savannah grasslands.
• Status In Wild: ?
• Status In (Australian) Captivity: Common. Pure breeding "normal" colour birds are hard to find.
• Age To Sexual Maturity: About 4 - 6 months.
• Best breeding years (estimate):  For best results, the birds should not be allowed to breed before they reach the age of about 10 - 12 months.  Best breeding years are till about 7 years of age but may be successful for several more years.
• Lifespan (estimate): approx. 8 - 10, but up to 15 years is possible.
• Sexing: Monomorphic / Dimorphic. Difficult to accurately sex. DNA or surgical sexing may be required.
• Colour mutations: Yes.  Due to the vast number of colour mutation combinations, pure breeding "normal" colour birds are hard to find.
• Availability: Pet shops and bird dealers.  Most commonly kept of the lovebirds.
• Temperament: Cheapest of the lovebirds and makes a good beginners bird.  They can be noisy birds so make sure they do not annoy neighbours.  Hardy, popular aviary bird and are generally prolific breeders and will breed all months of the year.  Parent birds can be aggressive to the young birds.  The young birds should be removed to a separate cage or aviary when they become independent.  Lovebirds should not be housed with other types of birds due to the lovebirds aggressive nature especially at breeding time.  All species of lovebirds will easily hybridize and produce fertile young, so only one species should be kept per cage or aviary.  For best breeding results, or for breeding for specific colour, only keep one pair per aviary or cage. 
• Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $30
• Description Of Adults:

1. Length: Approx. 140 - 150 mm (or approx 5.5 - 6 inches)
2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo/s above if available.
3. Weight: Approx. 50 - 60 gms (or approx. 2 ozs)

Level Of Knowledge Required: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws: Refer to " Government Laws " web page.

Housing Requirements: Refer to " Lovebirds " web page for general details on the housing of Lovebirds.

Best kept as one pair per cage or aviary.  The hens can be territorial and aggressive to other birds so a large aviary is required for successful colony breeding.  A dominant hen may kill another hen if the aviary is too small for the number of birds in that aviary.  Sub-ordinate pairs may not breed successfully.  Colony breeding requires more nest boxes being available than the number of pairs in the aviary.
A breeding colony of 4 or 5 pairs will probably require an aviary of about 3 metres x 1 metre x 2.1 metres high (10 x 3.5 x 7 feet).

Double wiring between adjoining aviaries is required to prevent injuries such as toes and feet being bitten by a neighbouring pairs.

Peach faced lovebirds will sleep/roost in their nest box at night.

Diet / Feeding: Refer to " Lovebirds " web page for general details on the feeding of Lovebirds.

Commercial Lovebird seed mixes are available.  A basic mix consists of canary, millet, and Panicum.  Like most other parrots, they will consume seeding grasses, sprouted seeds, and some fruits and vegetables such as corn-on-the-cob, apple, orange, broccoli and grapes.  Bread can be offered.  Source of grit and calcium should always be available.  Cuttlefish bone is ideal as a source of calcium .  The addition of an appropriate amount of an avian mineral and vitamin supplement to their food may be of benefit to these birds.

Nesting: As per "Lovebirds" web page.

• Nesting months: Will breed year round if conditions are suitable.
• Nest-box: Commercially made lovebird breeding boxes can be purchased cheaply form most bird dealers or pet shops.  Refer to "Lovebirds" web page.  Peach faced lovebirds will nest in a wide varieties of nest designs from the basic "budgie" box, parrot logs, to specialty lovebird nest boxes.  Peach faced lovebirds will sleep/roost in their nest box at night.
• Nest-box material: Hens carry the nesting material into the nest box.  The preferred nest material is green fronds of the Christmas Island date palm.  Can offer fresh cut pieces of eucalypt, willow or apple tree branches for the birds to tear apart.  Grasses and plant material, roots and all, may be incorporated into the nest.
• Who incubates the egg/s:  Hen

Breeding: Egg Colour White.  Clutch/s per year.. up to 3.  Eggs per nest 4 - 6.  Incubation approx  23 days.  Fledge approx. 6 - 7 weeks.  Independent approx. another 2 - 3 weeks.

All 5 species of Lovebirds will hybridize and produce fertile offspring.  House only one species per cage or aviary.  Peach face lovebirds now have almost as many colour breeding combinations budgies.

Young should be removed from the parent birds as soon as they are fully independent so as to avoid possible aggression from a parent.

Hens should not be allowed to raise more than 3 clutches per year.

Birds that are bred to have a particular visual colour or a specific genetic combination are leg rung with numbered, coloured, closed metal leg rings so each bird can be individually identified.  Suitable rings can be purchased from most bird dealers, pet shops & bird clubs and how they are put on the baby birds can be learnt from an experienced breeder or avian veterinarian.  Specialist Lovebird clubs/societies are established in many large cities.

Pure, non colour mutation, breeding birds are hard to find.  Many birds lack good body size probably due to the inbreeding for colour mutations.

Artificial incubation and hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site.  It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.

Health Issues: Refer to "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

• Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new bird/s or sick bird/s are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site. Refer "Avian Health Issues" web page option.
• Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace. Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References: Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

• Australian Aviculture
• A/A Vol 57 No. 3 Mar 2003 Page 45-47.
• A/A Vol 42 No. 2 Feb 1988 Page 32-35
• A/A Vol 39 No. 5 May 1985 Page 116-117
• A/A Vol 36 No. 1 Jan 1982 Page 18-22 (Cover photo)
• A/A Vol 34 No. 2 Feb 1980 Page 31-32
• A/A Vol 32 No. 7 Jul 1978 Page 99-100
• A/A Vol 28 No. 12 Dec 1974 Page 188-194 (Inc photo)
• A/A Vol 26 No. 3 Mar 1972 Page 36-37 (inc photo)
• A/A Vol 22 No. 11 Nov 1968 Page 162 (Mutations).
• A/A Vol 21 No. 11 Nov 1967 Page129-130.
• A/A Vol 21 No 1 Jan 1967 Page 8-10.
• A/A Vol 14 No 5 May 1960 Page 74-75.
• A/A Vol 12 No 11 Nov 1958 Page 137-139,143-145 (Inc colour plate).
• A/A Vol 8 No 10 Oct 1954 Page 120 (Yellow).
• Australian Birdkeeper
• ABK Vol 15 Issue 3. Jun-Jul 2002 Page 143-145
• ABK Vol 7 Issue 5. Oct-Nov 1994 Page 226-227
• ABK Vol 3 Issue 2. Apr-May 1990 Page 76-77

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