Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 2/25/2008

Question
how can you i tell if my budgie is pregnant.she is being kind of mean to my male budgie .and she is fluffing her feathers a lot and she looks huge when she does it and her tail/butt is curved when she does it. she used to do that for five minutes  but now she will do it like all day .her beak looks like a light rust color and she has a nesting box that shes goes in.

Answer
Hi, Katie,

Birds don't get pregnant, they lay eggs.  There is no way you can tell by just looking at your bird if your bird is about to lay eggs.  By observing your birds regularly, if they have mated, then you might be able to assume perhaps eggs will be laid soon, particularly if they have prepared the nesting box and the female is using it.  However, some of what you posted concerns me.  If this bird is "fluffing" up her feathers a lot and being mean to the male, perhaps she is ill.  If this male is her mate, they should be bonded, and she shouldn't be being aggressive to him.

I would need much more details of what's going on with your birds in order to provide any further assistance.  What do you mean by her "tail/butt is curved when she does it."  A bird that stays fluffed up all day when it isn't sleeping could be sick...fluffing up feathers when not sleeping is a sign of illness.  They fluff their feathers up in order to hide the fact that they are losing weight (weight loss is another sign of illness).  Some birds fluff their feathers up in order to make themselves look bigger in order to try to scare away "others," however, this should not go on all day.  If your bird is ill, you would need to seek certified avian veterinarian assistance right away.

Chrys