My zebbies won't stop throwing out their newspaper!

[Montblanc]

So I've got a strange problem with my boys.

A few days ago, they decided they don't want to poop on their newspaper anymore, like other common birds. No siree. I haven't seen them actively doing it, but for a couple weeks beforehand, I'd noticed them tearing up their newspaper more. I'm pretty sure that they'll start burning it in protest next. I've just given up for the past day or so, because as soon as I put new newspaper in, they would throw it out in a matter of hours.

Anyone have this problem before or have any suggestions for dealing with rebellious zebras?

[Sally]

What they are most likely doing is shredding the newspaper to use as nesting material. Do you have a nest in the cage? Of course, Zebras don't need a nest to shred paper. Many of my finches will also do this, the ones that are not set up in breeding cages with nesting material. It is just very difficult to stifle that desire to make a nest. Are they reaching the paper thru the grate, or are you laying newspaper on top of the grate? I really don't have any ideas to keep them from it, except to use a different bedding material, though your choices aren't that great either.

[Montblanc]

I used to keep a nest (or two) in the cage when it was just the brothers Bossy and Bobby because Bossy looooves decorating and they would sleep together, but when I moved Atticus in, they all started to get territorial, so I removed them. That was a while back, though, so I have no idea why they suddenly decided they hate newspaper. I keep it on top of the grate, but I might just have to put it underneath unless somebody has a better idea.

[ac12]

I had to put 1/2" wire mesh over my newspaper or my zebras will tear up the newspaper for nesting material. Where the mesh leaves newspaper unprotected, along the sides of the tray, they tear up the newspaper.