Ask Lafeber

Is my female budgie pregant or sick?

My female budgie has signs of preganacy: Enlarged abdomen, tired, eating more, can’t fly as well, and she’s laying down on my bookshelf (this is a small dark space, but there isn’t any materials to make a nest.) However, this behavior has been going on for a few weeks, and she hasn’t layed any eggs. Is there another problem? (Also, she does have a male partner but she’s never layer eggs before. This is her first time acting like this.)

Hi,

It definitely sounds like your bird is sick, and should be seen by an Avian Vet as soon as possible. Birds do not get pregnant – they lay eggs. Generally there are no advance signs of egg laying other than nesting behavior. But physically, there are no obvious signs. Each egg takes 48 hours to form and be laid. The signs you describe are not anything you would see with a healthy bird about to lay an egg.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda