Shredding toys- Good but also bad

[CaptMicha]

I know how shredding toys are great for a feather plucker and any bird despite whether they pluck or not.

Clover does pluck and she loves shredding things but the issue is that she takes the shreddedness and put it in a corner trying to make a nest. She would make one too if it wouldn't fall beneath the grate to the paper below.

Nests may not be so bad for some but Clover gets nasty and starts laying eggs. AND because of all that, she gets stressed out and feathers start getting plucked again.

So... Any solutions? Should I just not give her shreddables?

[Janie]

My suggestion would be that you look back at old threads that have discussed this topic many times. You can start in the breeding section and also behavior and taming sections. Also try using your "Search" feature at the top the forum. For instance, you can type in "nesty hen" into your search feature and come up with previous post that have discussed that topic.

There is some very good reading here, in the older threads. You can find many answers to questions that have been asked and answered before. :)

[CaptMicha]

But I did look and it didn't cover it. They say to remove any shreddables if she gets nesty.

But what am I suposed to give her when she starts plucking? I already have a peacock feather and chewy things but they don't help like paper.

[LauraO]

There are preening toys that aren't shredeable that might work. They usually include rope or leather. You just have to keep trying. I let my birds have shredeables but only when they are downstairs on their playgym and nowhere near their room or cage.

[kimsbirds]

We keep yards and yards of plain untreated leather strips (very thin, like a shoelace) for Miss Cinny to chew on when we don't want her in eggmode. Nothing else works for her, so I buy it by the spool:omg: :roll:

[CaptMicha]

I looked for leather strings in craft stores but couldn't find any. Where are you buying yours?

[Janie]

I looked for leather strings in craft stores but couldn't find any. Where are you buying yours?

I buy them at bird fairs. About .50 each and I use them all over my bird room to hang toys from, to chew on, etc.

[CaptMicha]

Why do you guys always have bird fairs in your area?!!! I keep wanting to go but they never have them near me! And I live half an hour from Washington D.C.!