So...

Newton has been constantly shoving the food out of the food bowls in the cage. Meaning: messier than usual, wasted food, and often leaves the other birds super confused.

Yesterday I figured out WHY she has been doing this obsessively. She's been trying to make a nest. I found an egg laid in the food bowl and I noticed that she had laid others on the floor of the cage.

I'm getting worried...

I'm decreasing the amount of daylight she's getting. I can't do anything about the fact that she has a mate... I keep the birds together and don't want to separate her because she'll see it as punishment and I wouldn't feel right. I'm trying to remove anywhere she might possibly lay the eggs and I'm NOT removing them from the cage.

And I've been giving her tons of spinach (which has calcium) but I'd like to make sure she's getting enough by using a supplement. I have some on hand and have usually put it over the food, but since she's going nuts shoving the food onto the floor I was thinking of putting it in the water... but I had no idea if that was a good idea or not???

If someone could let me know it would be appreciated.. thanks...

If I notice another egg laid by mid-next week, I'm going to the vet.

The liquid calcium for the water is what I use ( CALCIVET ) and I find it brilliant. Good luck. Maybe some more distraction therapy by changing the cage around a lot more ?

I haven't seen that at my pet store.

I got a powder kind... in the reptile/amphibian part of the store, they had none for birds.

powder... is that okay to sprinkle in the water and mix in?

Perhaps a hormone shot from the vet will disrupt this cycle, good luck!

Sorry to hear about your issues with Newton. It can be very stressful for her and yourself. I had issues with one of my hens this year. She was egg-bound with her first two eggs, then lay three, sat on them for awhile, then destroyed them. I removed the nest box and she laid four more (dropping and broken) I was considering further action and then she stopped. I hope you find a solution for your girl. I'd definitely up the calcium and keep a careful eye on her. Good Luck and let us know how she goes. xxx