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A calopsita is a much sought-after bird as a pet. Curious and super smart, when bred from a young age in the beak, she gets quite tame and can also learn several tricks and whistles.
However, as this is not such a common pet (just like dogs and cats), extra attention is needed, ensuring that the calopsita will develop healthily and happily.
If you are thinking of creating this bird, continue reading and see the main information, tips, toys, accessories and guidelines that we have separated for you
Calopsita is the “cousin” of macaws
Originally, calopsita comes from Australia, but today it is widespread throughout the world.
She is a bird of the psittacid genus (also called “crooked beak”), the same as macaws, cockatoos, parakeets and parrots.
Among the most striking features of psittaciformes is the fact that they have the ability to easily imitate various types of sounds.
Calopsites are very attached to their owners
If you are thinking about creating a calopsita but don’t have much time available, maybe you should review this decision.
This is because this is a sociable bird that usually gets very attached to its owner, demanding a lot of attention and care in order to become docile and fun birds.
When she does not receive the necessary attention, she can change her behavior, becoming aloof and even pecking at people.
Calopsita is not all the same
Unlike dogs and cats that have differentiation by breed, what changes in the calopsites are the colors that can be found both in nature and due to genetic mutations developed in captivity.
Basically there are 3 types of calopsites: common, white-faced and albino. The common one has a yellow face and orange cheeks and the body can be lutina (white), gray, cinnamon (brownish gray) and pearl.
The white face does not have the tones of yellow and orange, her body is all grey and her face is white. And the albino is the rarest. It is totally clear, with reddish eyes and pink feet.
That bird doesn’t like to live in a cage
In general, calopsita is a bird that likes to spend several hours a day outside the cage (unless it is raised early only inside the cage).
So when you go to buy your bird, make sure there’s enough security in the space where it will stay to spend a few hours a day loose.
In those moments, take the opportunity to play, make affection and teach some tricks to your bird.
Attention to room temperature
Excessive heat or cold can make your calopsita sick, so take care of the environment where the cage will stay.
Make sure you don’t sunbathe directly in the cage or the area is too hot.
In summer, it is good to ventilate the space and always offer fresh water to your bird.
Calopsita can be trained
This is an extremely intelligent bird and with a little dedication and affection she can be easily trained.
But for that, you need to be patient and schedule short trainings, since the average time of attention of the birds is 10 to 15 minutes.
Some valuable tips are: always approach slowly, call your calopsita by her name, make coffee on the bird’s head if she leaves, talk to your calopsita daily, never leave her alone for too long, play a lot, start imitating what she is doing, take the bird out of the cage every day and give a reward every time she does something positive.
Wrongly Managed Calopsites May Suffer
If your calopsita is left alone for a long time, does not have a suitable cage or a good diet, for example, she may develop various physical and mental health problems.
Some common problems are: weight gain due to lack of exercise, stress generated by confinement and inactivity (the bird may tear the feathers off, scream or become aggressive), chronic egg laying, abnormal nail and beak growth (due to lack of wear), among others.
If you notice these problems, review how you take care of your bird.
Calopsites last long
In general, psittaciformes have a very long duration.
Calopsites are no different. In captivity and when well cared for, they can reach, on average, 20 years.
However, there are reports of callopsites who lived to be 25 years old in good health and disposition.
Calopsita does not transmit disease
When we talk about raising birds as pets, there are still many myths.
One of them is that calopsita can transmit toxoplasmosis. That is not true and there is no problem with having a calopsitis while you are pregnant.
The only disease the bird can transmit to man is Chlamydia. So, when you buy your calopsitis, ask your vet to take the Chlamydiosis test.
Calopsites do not sleep like humans
Many people can’t even imagine it, but the Calopsites’ sleep is not exactly like ours.
While we choose how long we sleep, this bird, no matter what time it goes to sleep, will always wake up at dawn.
Therefore, let your calopsita rest as soon as sunset (from 6 pm) so that she has at least 12 hours sleep.
The ridge of the calopsita indicates how his mood is
Anyone who has a calopsita must have noticed that it moves the ridge (the topete) a lot during the day.
When your bird is calm, she leaves the sieves down, showing that she is relaxed and calm.
Now if the feathers stay up, the bird may be signaling discomfort, such as being frightened, euphoric or very excited.
Calopsita is monogamous
Other curiosity what’s so cool is that calopsita only has one partner for life.
Generally, it is the female who chooses the partner and this is not a very easy process.
Since the Calopsites are very strict, it can take them years to form a couple – but then they are quite faithful and do not change partners all their lives.
It’s not very easy to find out the sex of calopsita
Is your calopsita male or female? Although there are some “tricks” on the internet, it’s impossible to figure this out just by looking at your feathers.
The best way to find out is to take a sex test.
Another tip is to observe the behaviour, since males usually learn to sing more easily, while this is much rarer in females.
Pay attention when choosing the cage
Although calopsita does not like to stay inside the cage all the time, she collects herself to that environment to eat and sleep.
So it’s important to choose a cage that’s comfortable for the bird. The minimum measurement is: 60 cm high, 50 cm wide and 45 cm deep (for 1 calopsite only). The ideal, however, is to choose an even bigger cage.
The protective bars should have no more than 2 cm of space between them and must be made of stainless steel. Avoid zinc and lead cages that are toxic to birds.
Buy the other items needed for your bird
In addition to the cage, you should provide other items for your calopsita to develop well and healthy.
The minimum is: 1 bowl of water and 2 of food (dry and wet food must be served separately), 1 cage bottom cover, several perches inside the cage and some toys to distract it.
Toys can be exchanged weekly so that calopsita does not lose interest.
Give the new puppy time to get used to your house
When you buy a calopsita, take some time to get used to your house.
If he was raised in the beak when he was born, this adaptation will be faster – around a few hours.
Otherwise, the bird will need 2-3 days to adjust to the new home. In that time, do not handle the calopsita, but, of course, offer food, water and a well-cleaned cage.
Always offer a healthy diet to your bird
The feed for calopsita should be around 70% of your bird’s diet. Alpiste and sunflower seed can be given as snacks, but they are very greasy, so handle the amount.
Also include healthy fruits and vegetables. If the bird does not eat the fresh food, remove it within 4 hours after serving.
Never offer for your calopsita: chocolate, avocado, onion, mushrooms, tomato leaves, raw beans, alcohol or caffeine, because these foods are toxic.
Teach your bird to whistle or talk
Males are usually better able to whistle and eventually even talk, but females can also learn a few tricks.
To teach your bird to speak, you need to talk to her every day and repeat the words you want her to learn.
Whenever calopsita tries to speak a sentence or word, give a reward. To teach whistling, do the same process.
Stay tuned to your bird’s health problems
Unfortunately, callopsites can also get sick and it is important that you know how to recognize signs that need attention.
Some symptoms of a sick bird are: changes in behaviour (it may try to peck or get moody), loss of weight or appetite, rejecting food and water, coughing, irregular breathing or sneezing, eyes or nostrils inflamed and with crusts, dirty tail, blurred eyes and head, wings or hanging tails.
If you notice any of these signs, take your bird to the vet immediately. And, of course, always have regular check-ups.
Calopsites can suffer from night terror
This is a very common problem of these birds and some calopsites may be afraid of the dark, suffering a process called night terror.
Basically, it consists of frantically flapping its wings inside the cage at night, leading to injuries.
To prevent this, put a night light in the room where the calopsita will sleep and do not cover the cage completely at night.
Prepare a tasty dish for your calopsita
As you’ve seen, in addition to the feed, it’s very nice to offer other items to complement your bird’s diet.
Some good options to serve raw are: grated carrot, black olives, rocket, kale, cauliflower and zucchini.
If you prefer, you can cook sweet potatoes, corn or pumpkin seeds without seasoning. Good choices of fruits are apple, papaya and watermelon and you can still offer from time to time well boiled and kneaded eggs.
Watch out for mating
Calopsites can reproduce from the first year of life and at any time of the year. However, the most suitable is to make 2 to 3 litters per year, so as not to lead them to exhaustion.
Females and males hatch into the eggs and in a litter, the female can lay between 4 and 7 eggs.
The incubation period varies between 15 and 20 days and the puppies live with their parents at least until they are 60 days old.
If possible, have two calopsites
Calopsites are very attached to the owner and can follow him everywhere like a puppy.
But, as we have said, this is a bird that requires a lot of attention, otherwise it may become sad and depressed.
If you don’t have much time to take care of the calopsita, the tip is to have more than one. That way, they’ll keep you company and won’t feel you’re gone so much.
In some cases, they can choose the owner
You went there, bought your calopsita, cared for her with all love and affection, but she seems to like you less than another family member?
In some cases, that can happen. Just like dogs, calopsites can choose a person to be the “leader of the gang”.
And in that case, they will follow that person and give him/her more attention – no matter who bought him/her, taught him/her the tricks and care.
Calopsita can ‘talk’ to you through gestures and expressions
To be a good tutor, you have to recognize some of your animal’s traits. A calopsita screaming a lot, for example, may be feeling lonely, afraid, hungry, stressed or afraid.
If your bird starts pecking your finger a few times, it may indicate that she’s a little upset with you. If she starts to open her beak and “let out the air,” she may be angry and signal that she is defending herself.
15 Toys and Accessories for Calopsita Who Will Conquer Your Bird!
The calopsita toys are super important items to keep your bird entertained and relaxed. They help to take care of the health of your beak and also the mind of your calotte.
Those who have such a bird at home know how intelligent calopsites are – and it is necessary to stimulate this intelligence so that their bird is not sad or stressed, which may lead to habits such as excessive pious, destruction of the house and even self-mutilation.
If you spend a lot of time away from home, toys and other products are indispensable, because calopsita is very companion and misses the owner.
If she is entertained by the toys, she will feel less of an absence. Check out the selection of products and ideas we put together to entertain your bird!
Oh and don’t miss it until the end of the post, because there’s a video with more ideas of toys for calopsita and why to use themyour bird will love it.
Mirror with perch
The mirror is an excellent toy for calopsites and other birds.
After all, when they see themselves reflected in the mirror they think they are in front of other birds and feel less lonely.
This perching model will make your calopsita spend hours looking in the mirror, singing and pecking.
Bathtub
The bathtub is not a toy, but it is an extremely important product for calopsites.
That’s because these birds are used to bathing – and they miss it if they don’t do it for a long time.
Leaving the bathtub with clean, fresh water at your disposal will make your bird feel at ease to take a bath whenever you wish.
Toy with bell
Calopsites are very curious birds that love certain noises.
In general, they are very happy with the bell toys, like the one in the picture.
Soon you will see your calopsita learn to ring the bell with the beak and have fun!
Amusement park
Have you thought about offering a complete amusement park for your bird?
This image model is ideal for your calopsita to exercise and also to feel mentally stimulated.
It has stairs, swings and trunks, as well as beads and other attractions for the birds.
Balance sheet
Birds also like to swing and can be very happy with these items.
This perch can be hung on the inside or outside of the cages and allow the birds to swing.
As it is full of colorful beads, the calopsites are attracted and can have fun pecking and singing to the perch.
Gangorra
This is a toy idea similar to the previous one, only with a little more challenge.
Since he’s bigger, the bird might get perched or try to cross over.
Plus, there are several colorful items to entertain your calopsita!
Ladder with beads
Physical activity is very important for her calopsita, preventing her from developing health problems.
The stairs are great for this, as the bird can go up and down it, reaching the highest parts of the cage.
This model is very colorful and full of items for the bird to peck and have fun.
Network balance
Since calopsites love to swing, you will find many different models of swing.
This one works a bit differently, since it is placed like a net, with the two ends supported in the cage.
The bird will then have to go through the net or it may be perched on a rocking position.
Access Rope
Making the cage more interesting and attractive is important as environmental enrichment for your bird.
So she can move around the cage, peck at items and play, stimulating her intelligence.
This access rope is great for connecting points in the cage, making the calopsita have to balance between the points, increasing its agility.
Wooden toy with bell
Wooden toys are most suitable for birds because they are non-toxic.
This model is very interesting, because it is colorful and has several points for the calopsites to peck.
In addition, the toy has a little bell at the end, which stimulates the bird even more.
Nursery
A large, spacious and attractive cage makes the difference when it comes to making your bird happier.
This nursery has several items that will facilitate the cleaning and care of the attendant, such as washable plastic tray, removable floor grid and wheels.
In addition, it has leisure options for the birds, such as wooden toys, a balcony with perches and a leisure area with stairs.
Tree trunk playground
The elements that recreate nature are ideal for the calopsites.
This way you will bring as much of their free life as possible into your home.
For example with this beautiful play of tree trunk, with several branches for the bird to climb and play with.
Stone spout
The stone spout is a very important accessory and should always be present in the cage of your bird.
It helps to distract and entertain the calopsita, relieving stress.
It also helps to wear out the beak, providing adequate development of the bird.
Food stick
Offering food in a creative way helps your bird to feel more stimulated and independent.
An interesting idea is that stick with several seeds, honey and eggs.
Besides being nutritious, this is a fun idea that will conquer your calopsita!
Calopsita biscuit
How about offering your bird a nice, nutritious snack?
This biscuit is tasty and crispy and can be offered every day as a snack or reward, helping to train and teach new tricks to your calopsita.
Curiosities About Calopsitas: 11 Features about this Pet You Need to Know!
Do you want to know some curiosities about Calopsitas? The Calopsitas have every day gained a bigger space in the house and in the heart of the pets lovers. Sociable, playful and well attached to humans these birds have won a legion of fans.
But before buying a calopsita to call yours it is important to know a little more about this species, its tastes, customs and habits so that it can live for a long time and in a healthy way.
If you already have this nice bug (or if you’re thinking of having one) see these curiosities about Calopsites that we have brought and that can facilitate its handling with this docile and very curious bird.
Calopsita is native to Australia
The first curiosity about calopsita is that it is from the same family as cacatuas, the so-called psittacids – which are those birds that have the “crooked beak”.
It originated in Australia and the first mention of the species happened in 1792.
However, it was only in 1894 that she began to be raised in captivity in Europe. In Brazil, they arrived only in 1970.
Calopsites can live for more than a decade
In nature, calopsites can live for about 30 years!
Those living in captivity can be as old as 20. However, the average life span of a calopsite is 12 to 15 years.
Some calopsites may talk, but it’s rare
Some calopsites may learn to speak a few words, but not like kites.
Although both are psittaciformes, the callopsites are more difficult to learn phrases, and many can reproduce some words, sounds and mimics.
The male is more likely to learn to talk and sing than the female. But you have to teach that to your bird.
Curiosities About Calopsites: Defining male and female can be difficult
Contrary to what many people think, whether a bird is male or female may not be that simple and the best way is to do a sex test.
Other characteristics can be observed such as: pelvic bones (in males they are more closed and in females more open), tail feathers (which in females are usually the same size and in males the tips are more rounded) and the head (which in males are more arched).
The difference in behaviour can also help, as males can be more risky and females more docile.
The best thing to do is to tame your calopsita when you’re young.
The best thing to do is to give a calopsita a maximum of 10 months to a year. After this period it can be difficult to modify the bird’s behavior.
For this, it is important to know the age of your calopsita and if possible try to buy it newer, so she will get used to you.
If your calopsita has never been socialized it is important to begin to accustom her to your presence by sitting close to her, talking to her and making contact, so she will be comfortable with your presence and little by little she will be more docile.
It is possible to know the mood of your calopsita by watching the ridge
The ridge of calopsita can tell a lot about your mood. When she is frightened or excited she can leave the ridge standing and lower when she is relaxed.
If your calopsite is wanting to look more seductive, it may leave the ridge a little more projected.
Now if the plume is down, then she may be curious and focused on something that is happening around her.
Your calopsita may scream a lot and it’s your way of communicating
There are several ways for a calopsite to communicate: with body expression and also with vocalization.
That means she can whistle, sing or scream. If your bird is shouting often, try to understand what she means.
In many cases, she may be implying to the owner that she is feeling alone, that she wants to get out of the cage, that she is afraid of something, hungry, thirsty, stressed and many other situations.
Calopsita also yawns
Calopsites are very expressive and if your bird is sleepy it is very likely that she will yawn, just as we do.
If she’s relaxed, you can see her opening her nozzle several times, especially if it’s close to her bedtime.
Isn’t she a beauty?
Calopsites can have night terror
Shadows near the cage, flashing lights, flares of light or noise can frighten your calopsita at night, causing them to have night terrors.
During this time, she may struggle in the cage and get very scared. Try to calm her down and analyze the cage.
Sometimes it’s possible that insects and other bugs frightened your bird, remove them immediately. Leave the calopsites cage in a quiet place without excessive stimulation.
Curiosities about Calopsitas: The Calopsites are faithful
Generally, when calopsites choose a partner it is for life, that is, they are considered monogamous birds.
Most of the time, it’s the female who chooses. So there’s no point in the male showing off, if she doesn’t want to, they don’t form a couple. And this process of choice can take years, depending on the female.
However, there are some exceptions and it may be that the male has 2 females, but this is rare.
In each fertilization, a female can lay 4 to 7 eggs
Despite the large quantity of eggs, it does not mean that they will all “take revenge” and become puppies.
After laying the eggs, the chicks start to hatch between 17 and 22 days.
At the time of breeding, you may notice your most aloof calopsita couple, this is natural due to their nest and egg protection instinct.
Have you seen how many Curiosities About Calopsitas? Did you know about them all?