My female sunconure keeps shredding up her news paper and trying to make a nest out of it. How can I stop her?

Question

I have a female sunconure and she keeps shredding up the newspaper at the bottom of her cage and building a nest out her scraps. She hasn't laid any eggs yet and I don't want her to! The newspaper is changed everyday and she just tears it up again and builds a nest. I don't think anything will discourage her. I really don't want to breed her either. How can i possibly stop her from nessting?????????????!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Many birds love to shred paper. It is a form of play for them. There are even toys made from paper that are specially designed to be shredded.
Newspaper is nontoxic and printed with nontoxic ink. In fact a new newspaper is practically sterile germ wise.

With all that being said, *Why* would you want to deprive your bird of this opportunity to enjoy herself?
If she is going to lay eggs, she will do it even if there is no nest of any kind. We have seen this with my birds.

Newspapers are probably the cheapest source of entertainment you could give to your bird. Other sources would be paper napkins and unscented tissues.

Your cage should have a metal grate in the bottom to keep your bird from being able to reach the cage liner. If your cage does not have one you should replace it or get a different and complete cage. Then you can line the bottom with impunity while you give your little feathered friend some new newspaper each day to amuse herself.

Is it really so much for her to ask if it makes her happy?

By the way, our cockatiel loves to shred papers as well. I made a hanging toy to hold several napkins for him to shred at his leisure!

Answer 2

If a grate came with the cage, then put it back in the cage so that the bird can't get at the paper. If there was no grate when you purchased it, then try using some of the pine bedding or recycled/shredded paper bedding which can be purchased at a pet store.

She may or may not be attempting to build a nest. Generally, sun conures do not "BUILD" a nest as Quaker parakeets do. In the wild they will search for a hole in a tree and use that to lay their eggs.

More than likely she is simply playing and shredding the paper out of boredom. Maybe try buying her some new toys. Pet stores carry lots of toys that are good for birds that like to shred paper. You can even make some toys especially for her to tear or try giving her a few empty toilet paper rolls to shred, or a brown lunch size paper bag.

And, as one of the other respondents said; even if your bird does lay an egg she will "most likely" lay infertile eggs, let me assure you - if there is no male in the cage with her, the eggs will definitely NOT be FERTILE! Females do NOT need a male in order to lay eggs and its no big deal if she does.

A full clutch (brood/group) of eggs for a sun conure consists of usually 3-5 eggs, laid about every second or third day. If she does start laying, DO NOT keep removing them because it may cause her to instinctively keep trying to lay a full clutch and she will eventually deplete her own body's calcium which is dangerous for a number of reasons. Allow her to lay all her eggs and incubate them until she looses interest. Once she looses interest, you can pull the eggs out of the cage and toss them out without breaking them (because they will be either dried up or may be rotten and smell up your house)!

Any other concerns, feel free to email me.

Answer 3

Put the grate back in the bottom of the cage so that she can not get to the paper.

Or

Everyday take out the nest and put in new newspaper.

You can also try lowering the amount of time that she receives natural sun light. She is probably getting a good amount so she thinks it is time to breed. Cut back the amount of light by 1/2 hour every couple of days. That should indicate to her that it is Autumn instead of Spring or Summer. Her instinct should tell her that it is not a good time to have eggs and she should stop.

If she is not with a male, her eggs will not be fertile so if you throw them away you are not causing any harm. If she is with a male, the eggs do not start to form babies inside until they are incubated. Birds will not start incubating until they have laid a couple of eggs. Therefore if you throw out the egg the day it is laid, you are still not hurting anything.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

You could monitor her how much light she gets. Early mornings and late nights translate to springtime for many birds.

Remember that conures, along with many other birds, have a very stong and natural drive to breed. Talk to an avian vet about increasing calcium in her diet so that you reduce the risk of her becoming egg bound or having other problems.

If she does lay eggs, remember that this is a natural function that will pass. The eggs will be unfertilized (I assmue she is a single bird with no mate). Generally her interest will last as long as the normal brooding period is, at which point removal of the eggs may be advised by your avian vet.

I highly recommend getting in contact with an avian vet, advice is generally free.

Answer 5

If you do not put the paper in the bottom of the cage she can't shred it.. place it in the tray beneath the cage bottom that will deter her from nest building.. give her new items to play to keep her occupied while she goes thru this... Good luck

Answer 6

you cant...she sees you as her mate, and will most likely lay infertile eggs...just go ahead and let her. this is a natural behavior that my indian ringneck does twice a year...let her keep her eggs for a few days, and then throw them out...she will stop nesting for several months, then do it again

Answer 7

you don't have to breed her to purchase a nesting box which will make her happy

Answer 8

you could put the newspaper somewher she could nt reach, and put hay, twigs, leaves, or other similar things, that could distract her from the newspaper. :)

Answer 9

just let her do it. u cant really stop her any way. if she lays eggs then just let her feel motherly and let her have them

Answer 10

you really can't stop her...