I have had Muse for atleast two years now, he is a brilliant baby, knows how to sing alot of songs, will ask for what he wants (food, water, snack) and usualy converses fairly in context (knows what a bath is, when night time comes, etc)

He used to be soooo sweet. I could take him anywhere, and regularly took him to friends houses. He goes from person to person just fine and will talk to anyone who will listen.

My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for 5 years, and found out we succeded in December. Quite a happy moment for husband and I, but I am positive Muse can sense the hormones.

Ever since becoming pregnant his behavior has totaly changed. He will randomly bite people, for no reason. Just mid sentance he clamps down on whatever is near. He will also viciously attack the sides of his cage if anyone walks within 10 feet of it, which has made it a real trick to get him out of the cage.

I am now 5 months pregnant and this has been going on for atleast 4 months. I thought maybe he was just going through the terrible twos, or needed some time to adjust, but hes continualy sliding down hill. If I let him out of the cage any more he bites and then tries to launch himself across the room. He never used to be able to fly, I kept his wings clipped, but even with 5 clipped on both sides he is able to make it across the room easily.

I have taken to having to leave him in his cage most of the day, he used to play on his perch and toys for atleast 5-8 hours a day, and was completely content doing that, now he gets maybe 15 minutes before he decides he *cant* stay there anymore and goes in search of something or someone to bite.

He has also decided sunlight is evil, if the sun comes through an open window he will scream for hours on end untill I close the curtain. He used to play in the window and thought it was the coolest thing.

His beak has become incredibly long and very very sharp, and I noticed today that he has started to pluck the feathers under his left leg. I have bought every different kind of toy I can think of to get him to play and be happy, only thing he wants to do is claw at a wiffle ball and imitate the sound it makes (VERY anoying sound) he hasnt said more than "stop screaming" in atleast two weeks now.

What on earth happened to my happy playful quaker? I cant wait another 4 months to see if his problems go away when the baby comes. I need to figure out how to fix his problem...pronto.

What should I do? I have thought of buying him a newer, bigger cage, letting him out more often, making him continue to go places with me, even though he gets pissy and bites everyone (including me). I am running out of friends who will even allow him in their house, where they used to get excited when I brought him.

Well if he's just now over 2 years old he's coming into sexual maturity...Hormones are raging for him right now. He's becoming more territorial which is pretty normal for a quaker.

Plus I would suggest clipping a few more flights on each wing. I've known some quakers who can fly with all 10 on each side clipped. Granted not well...but enough to get from point A to point B and eventually get where they want to get. On that note too I've know birds that couldn't fly with just 2 or 3 feathers clipped.

Seriously I would take his flying privileges away and that will help adjust his attitude. If he is really cage territorial, Move things around in his cage...maybe even move his cage to a different part of the house... Try keeping his daylight hours between 10 and 12 and see if this helps.

If you've been reading a lot of the recent posts you'll see that lots of peoples birds are having a personality change right now. Its called Spring rush of hormones...And hopefully as Spring turns to Summer and to fall those raging hormones will lessen and your Muse will become more like his old self again...However, Since he's reaching maturity, it was bound to change some anyway....

I hope you can reach a happy medium with him before you have the Baby because there's no doubt he's gonna be jealous for a while of that baby...And I'd hate to see you rehome him....

Muse must sense that he isn't going to be the only one aboard this ship from now on....

believe it or not all birds have this sense that something is different with their 'flockmate' so that could be part of the problem, the other is Hormones he's entering it pretty early i see they usually start around 3yrs old.

just talk to himand let him know that you love him and be positive with him, always be enthusiastic. it helps. he just needs some time ..

I am building him a new play stand to see if a bit more stimulation will help him out.

I think some of the spring feaver is wearing off atleast a little. He is talking and kissing to himself today instead of only screaching.

I have a possible suggestion. He is sensing changes, so he is becoming protective of his space and of what he can control. But changes are necessary and help to be a well-rounded socilaized bird. Try moving his cage to a different location. I do this with my guys when they get too protective. It helps a bit.

We have the annual spring edginess here, too. We have to take everything shreddable away from our girlie quakers.

The long beak, chewing feathers and these behavioral changes can be something medical going on, too. I would urge you to get him a check up with blood work done, if it has been a while. And perhaps a beak trim. If the beak gets too long, it runs the risk of cracking where it could hurt. We have a quaker at the rescue that has a very long beak that needs trimming every few mionths. And thinking even more... one of my quakers gets downright mean when she eats corn. She has a sensitiviy to it. I know I am throwing a lot out there, but birds usually have a reason for what they do, and they are more adaptable that many people believe. In my opinion, quakers are one of the most adaptable. When I have a behavioral change in my flock that seems really out of the norm, I head for the vet first to rule out everything else. I have a grey who started to get mean... took him to the vet and he had cirrhosis of the liver from possible aflotoxin. When we first got my second quaker and she was overly irritated with everything, we found zinc poisoning. A macaw was meaner than usual and had calcium deficiency. With meds, these birds turned right back around.

I gave you too much to think about, didn't I? But maybe you can figure out something thinking from a different angle.

well although I don't have any advice I just wanted to say that I was pulling for you guys. I've noticed spring behavior in mine but not as bad as yours. I do recommend talking to him even while in the cage. I do this with my stressed qp and it really helped him feel comfortable so I know it helps!

Sounds like spring fever.

I was talking with a girl from a petstore back when I was trying to figure Georgie out. She told me that some birds pluck their feathers out on their legs when they are hormonal and can't do anything about it. She said that most males do that then girls.

Its just a thought, I don't know how true it may be.