Budgies prefer to perch high in their cages. You’ll often find them seeking out the up-most points, sitting on the loftiest branches or bars they can reach. So, it’s odd when this isn’t the case.
Budgies who spend most of their time at the bottom of the cage may be sick, stuck to the cage, injured, or scared of an object or another budgie at the top of the cage.
Temperature extremes and overcrowding can drive a budgie to the base of a cage, as can exhaustion.
Why Does My Budgie Stay on The Bottom of The Cage?
If your budgie is staying at the bottom of the cage for many hours at a time or permanently, this could have the following explanation(s):
Illness
The budgie may feel unwell and be unable to perch higher up in the cage. Also, it may be exhausted and unable to fly up higher than a few inches. So, it’ll minimize activity to preserve energy.
Physical Trauma
Even in familiar surroundings, budgies can collide with objects or the bars of the cage, resulting in wing injuries or concussions. This could mean that a budgie can’t ascend to the higher parts of the cage.
Stuck
It’s possible your budgie landed on the bottom of the cage floor and got its foot caught. Since budgies’ legs are delicate, they may be unable to dislodge themselves sufficiently to escape.
Some budgies will flap their wings wildly to get free and injure themselves. Others will give up or stay put to avoid further damaging their legs.
Fear
Have you added a new toy, mirror, or object at the top of the cage?
If your budgie appears to avoid this toy/item, fluffs its feathers, screams, or flaps its wings, it may be afraid of it, so it goes to the bottom of the cage to stay away from it.
Escape Bullying
If you have two or more budgies, they may not get along. In this situation, they may constantly fight, be it for food and water or personal space.
Eventually, the more dominant budgie will establish control over the upper parts of the cage. The weaker one will be forced to almost exclusively live on the ground out of fear.
If you have multiple budgies in the same cage and some appear to live on the ground level, consider moving them to their own cage.
Temperature
According to the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, budgies are sensitive to extreme temperature changes. Pet budgies may become distressed when the weather gets too hot or cold.
Your bird may descend to lower, cooler areas of the bird cage when the temperatures climb above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Also, a budgie may feel too cold to perch properly and fall off. Once at the bottom of the cage, it’ll seek to conserve energy and warmth by staying there.
Why Is My Budgie Sleeping At The Bottom of The Cage?
Most budgies sleep on their perches, which is an instinctual behavior that keeps them safe from ground-based predators in the wild.
In captivity, staying in a lofty position when sleeping will make them feel safe and secure. If your budgie foregoes this instinct and sleeps on the bottom of the cage, it’s a sign of a problem.
Sick And Weak
A budgie may feel too unwell, disoriented, or in pain to fly back to its perch. If the budgie is prepared to sleep on the floor of its cage, it could be very weak and sick.
Even unwell budgies will do their utmost to reach a perch during the night. They understand how vulnerable sleeping on the floor leaves them to nocturnal predators.
Lack of Space
If you have several budgies in the same cage, there may be insufficient space to accommodate them. So, one or more may be unable to sleep on their preferred perch.
In rare cases, a budgie forced onto the ground consistently may find the floor more comfortable than certain perches. It’ll continue to sleep there, even if you add additional perches.
You’ll need to provide your budgies with a larger, more spacious cage.
Exhaustion
Sometimes, a budgie can get so tired from playing or flying that it lacks the energy to ascend its cage. Rather than fly up to its favored perch to sleep, it’ll stay on the floor of its cage to rest.
Sleeping on the ground enables it to rest its legs and tired body, recovering energy overnight. However, this shouldn’t continue for more than one night, or it’s likely injured.
Why Do Budgies Lay Eggs on The Ground?
Some new parent budgies lay their first eggs on the ground as they’re still learning and developing their skills. Hens will eventually realize that they should lay their eggs in loftier, safer spots.
Also, unsuitability and a lack of suitable nesting material to make a suitable nest may force budgies to go to the bottom of their cage.
Provide a secure nesting box in an elevated position with warm, comfortable nesting material.
New Budgie Sitting on Bottom of Cage
Budgies feel more stressed and afraid in unfamiliar living environments.
It’s normal for a new budgie to settle in one spot, such as the corner of one perch, on the side of a cage, or at the bottom of the cage.
Any fear and anxiety will eventually dissipate as the budgie grows more comfortable in its new home. Do your utmost to get the budgie used to a routine, as this will speed up the orientation process. For example, always providing a source of fresh food and water will give the budgie security.
Talk to your budgie calmly, but avoid hovering over the cage, as it can make them more fearful. Then, gradually introduce new perches and toys, like swings and bells.
If it feels comfortable, let your budgie out of its cage to explore and play games.
If your budgie is at the bottom of the cage, it may be ill, injured, scared, stuck, or exhausted. However, there are harmless reasons, such as being temporarily uncomfortable in a new environment.
