Anita from South Florida

Hello to all fellow parrot lovers,
I have 3 parrots that stole my heart. An African Cape,a Conure and a 7 yr old Severe Macaw (rescued 3 1/2 yrs ago).
My 4 yr old African Cape has started tearing up newspaper on the bottom of her cage for the first time. She has a large cage loaded with toys and stays out all day. She climbs an goes into our Macaws cage while our Macaw sits on her own stands (one inside & one outside). She keeps very busy playing between both cages but has never torn up newspaper. Would this be a sign of nesting? I don't think this would be an all the sudden new hobby?? When she is given the freedom, she doesn't go back to the newspaper. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. I know this is the season so if she is nesting...How long is it between the nesting to laying an egg? I have read once the egg is laid to wait until she ignores the egg to remove it. Thank you for your help, Anita

Since she has suddenly started doing it, it's possible she's thinking of laying an egg. Or she's thinking someone in your family or one of the other birds is going to be her mate, lol! My female conures likes to shred newspaper and will do everything she can think of to get it under the grate, but so far she has not laid an egg. She is almost 12.

And welcome to the forum!

welcome to the forum! I am sure you will like it here and find a lot of help from the experienced members all this newbie can offer is hello

Hi and welcome.

Shredding the newspaper could be a sign that she would like to make a nest or it could also just mean that she discovered she likes the sound and feel of it when she shreds it. Hard to say just yet. If she's on the bottom playing with the newspaper, make sure it's not soiled so she doesn't pick up any unwanted bugs.