Hormonal Behaviour & Nesting Issues 

At certain times of the year — especially in spring and summer — budgies can go through hormonal changes that affect their mood, energy, and behavior. They might suddenly become more territorial, aggressive, cuddly, noisy, or obsessed with nesting spaces. These changes are natural, but they can become frustrating or even dangerous if not managed properly.

Understanding how to handle hormonal budgies gently and respectfully can help you avoid bites, egg-laying, and unnecessary stress.

🔁 1. What Triggers Hormonal Behaviour?

Budgies may show hormonal signs due to:

• Increased daylight hours (more than 12 hours of light daily)

• Warm temperatures and humid air

• Nesting-like spaces (boxes, dark corners, tents, paper piles)

• Frequent petting, especially on the back or under the wings

• Over-bonding with a human or mate

⚠️ 2. Common Hormonal Behaviours

• Excessive screeching or calling

• Increased biting or moodiness

• Crouching and lifting the tail (females)

• Regurgitating food on you, toys, or cage bars

• Territorial guarding of objects or cage corners

• Shredding paper and building nests

• Trying to mate with cage mates, toys, or hands

🧘 3. How to Reduce Hormonal Triggers

✅ Limit Light Exposure

• Reduce lighting to 10–11 hours per day

• Cover the cage at the same time every night

• Avoid keeping lights or screens on late into the night

✅ Remove Nesting Triggers

• Take out dark hideouts, paper bedding, boxes, or tents

• Don’t offer soft bedding materials or paper piles

• Rearrange the cage regularly to disrupt “nesting zones”

✅ Avoid Certain Kinds of Petting

• Don’t stroke down their back or under their wings

• Stick to light head or cheek scritches only

• Petting in the wrong areas can stimulate mating instincts

✅ Provide More Foraging & Flying

• Keep their mind busy with new toys, shreddables, and puzzles

• Offer out-of-cage time daily to help burn off energy

• Use training or games to redirect hormonal behavior

🪺 4. Egg-Laying & Nesting in Females

Some females will lay eggs even without a mate. Watch for:

• Sitting in corners or boxes constantly

• Straining or puffing up

• Laying multiple eggs (fertile or not)

• Aggressive guarding of food or toys

To manage this:

• Remove nesting spaces

• Replace high-protein food with a more balanced diet

• Avoid encouraging nesting behavior

• Never remove eggs immediately — it can cause stress. Replace them with fake eggs or wait until she loses interest naturally.

👥 5. Over-Bonding With You or a Cage Mate

Budgies that see you as a mate might:

• Constantly regurgitate on you

• Get jealous when you give attention elsewhere

• Act clingy, scream when you leave, or bite others who come close

Tips:

• Spend time with them but don’t over-cuddle

• Encourage independent play

• Let them bond with another budgie if possible

• Rotate toys and environments to reduce obsession

🚩 6. When to Be Concerned

• Hormonal behavior lasts for weeks or worsens

• Your budgie is laying eggs constantly or getting egg-bound

• Aggression becomes dangerous to you or another bird
  → Always consult an avian vet if something seems extreme or health-related.

💡 Final Thought

Hormones are natural, but they don’t have to take over your budgie’s life — or yours. With the right environment, gentle redirection, and awareness of triggers, you can help your budgie stay balanced, happy, and safe year-round.