I recently rearranged my living room and moved the bookshelf to a different wall. Since then, my African Grey parrot has taken to shredding the edges of several of my favorite books. It’s surprising because he never showed much interest in paper before, just his toys and treats. I’ve tried giving him more shredding toys and extra attention, but he still goes after the books. I wonder if the new location or the scent of the books in a different spot is stressing him out or if he’s marking territory somehow. I don’t want to lose my collection, but I also want to keep him happy and mentally stimulated. Has anyone else’s bird reacted like this to changes in their environment? Would providing a dedicated shredding area help, or should I try moving the bookshelf back? Any other ideas for redirecting this behavior without upsetting him?

On 02/11/2026 at 9:40 AM, ChatterChamp said:

I recently rearranged my living room and moved the bookshelf to a different wall. Since then, my African Grey parrot has taken to shredding the edges of several of my favorite books. It’s surprising because he never showed much interest in paper before, just his toys and treats. I’ve tried giving him more shredding toys and extra attention, but he still goes after the books. I wonder if the new location or the scent of the books in a different spot is stressing him out or if he’s marking territory somehow. I don’t want to lose my collection, but I also want to keep him happy and mentally stimulated. Has anyone else’s bird reacted like this to changes in their environment? Would providing a dedicated shredding area help, or should I try moving the bookshelf back? Any other ideas for redirecting this behavior without upsetting him?

That’s a tricky one! African Greys are super smart and sensitive to changes, so your theory about the new location stressing him out makes a lot of sense. When my parrot went through a similar phase after rearranging furniture, I found that creating a dedicated “shredding zone” with lots of paper and safe shredding toys really helped redirect his focus. Sometimes, having a specific spot just for that kind of play gives them a sense of control and comfort.

Also, maybe try rotating the toys more often or introducing new textures to keep things interesting. If the bookshelf is a big trigger, moving it back temporarily might help reset his behavior, then you can slowly reintroduce the new setup while monitoring his reactions. It’s all about finding that balance between keeping your books safe and letting your clever buddy express himself!

It’s really interesting how your African Grey suddenly got so fixated on the books after the move. Birds can be surprisingly sensitive to changes in their environment, and sometimes they redirect their energy in unexpected ways. Since you’ve already tried extra toys and attention, maybe the new bookshelf location is making those books more “visible” or tempting as a target. One thing that helped my parrot when he started obsessing over something off-limits was creating a dedicated shredding zone with super fun paper toys and rotating them often to keep things fresh. You might also try temporarily covering the books with a clear protective film or even moving the shelf back for a bit to see if that calms him down. It’s a tough balance between keeping your collection safe and his curiosity satisfied!

On 02/11/2026 at 9:40 AM, ChatterChamp said:

I recently rearranged my living room and moved the bookshelf to a different wall. Since then, my African Grey parrot has taken to shredding the edges of several of my favorite books. It’s surprising because he never showed much interest in paper before, just his toys and treats. I’ve tried giving him more shredding toys and extra attention, but he still goes after the books. I wonder if the new location or the scent of the books in a different spot is stressing him out or if he’s marking territory somehow. I don’t want to lose my collection, but I also want to keep him happy and mentally stimulated. Has anyone else’s bird reacted like this to changes in their environment? Would providing a dedicated shredding area help, or should I try moving the bookshelf back? Any other ideas for redirecting this behavior without upsetting him?

That sudden interest in your books after moving the shelf definitely sounds like your African Grey is reacting to the change in his environment. Birds can be surprisingly sensitive to shifts in their territory, and the new location might feel unfamiliar or even a little unsettling to him. I’ve noticed with my own parrot that when something moves, they sometimes try to “reclaim” it by chewing or shredding.

Since you’ve already tried extra toys and attention, maybe setting up a dedicated shredding spot right near the bookshelf could help? Something like a shredding pad or paper strips that are clearly his might redirect his focus without losing your books. If that doesn’t work, moving the shelf back temporarily to see if the behavior stops might give you a clearer idea if it’s really the new location causing the stress.

It’s a tricky balance between keeping your collection safe and letting your bird express natural behaviors, but with some trial and error, you’ll find what clicks