Feather plucking?

Hi nizzeh, Iris is a cute name.  It's possible that Iris is just molting, but you can't normally tell that a Quaker is molting except by the number of feathers at the bottom of the cage. If she's plucking them, you can often tell by the poor condition of the shaft. Since she's new to you, I'd highly recommend you take her to an avian vet for an overall health check. It's a good thing to do even when you don't have any concerns. If she's healthy, the vet has a good baseline for her and you have someone you can call in the future. And if she is plucking, there could be a physical cause.

Parrots are very sensitive and are great reflectors of our emotions, so it's important that you not show your distress to Iris. Good luck, and please let us know how things go with her.

Hello nizzeh and Iris! Welcome! As everyone has said, the vet is a good option. They will be much better equipped to help you. What diet is Iris on? Feather condition can be vastly improved by a proper pelleted diet containing plenty of protein, a mix of fresh vegetables and uv light. You can buy bird safe UV lights from Arcadia bird supplies.

What do the feathers look like in this area and what do the dropped feathers look like? Do you notice any stress bars (parts of the feather that are dull or transparent?) what are the feathers that are growing back like? do they look brittle and broken? Have you noticed any deficiency in her beak? The above questions relate to a condition called parrot beak and feather disease. It is most likely in young birds although Quakers do not tend to be overly susceptible. All birds can get it, however. It can only be caught from infected birds, so if you got her from a reputable breeder that takes care of their stock, this condition is highly, highly unlikely. It is a pretty devastating illness, however, and so, although probability dictates it's more likely a moult or something far less serious, I would definitely get Iris to a certified avian vet asap. Please do keep us updated on how she is.

That's a relief! I think it's safe to say that most all of us have gone into panic mode over our birds, especially early on.

My bird has a feather that is sticking out a lot more than his/her others. He also has some feathers that look rather frayed. I love my Windex so much, but I go to school full time and have ballet and therapy after school. Idk if he’s not happy or what I did wrong, could you guys help/any advise?

My Quaker will chew feathers if he’s stressed out or he doesn’t have enough fussy/ fidgety toys. He doesn’t generally pluck but will groom so much that the feather barb edges get worn or chewed off.

I know if I see worn feathers that either it’s almost time to molt or my Buddy is anxious about something. I make sure that he is getting multiple out and cuddle times each day to keep him happy. And I think about what might be stressing him and try to fix it.

During a molt it's normal for feathers to be lost, but there shouldn't be any bare areas and it shouldn't appear that the parrot is pulling the feathers out or chewing them off. The small white down feathers are lost frequently, year round, while primary feathers are mostly shed during a molt. Most parrots molt once or twice a year, while some might be like my QP Ralph, who molts slowly and gradually all year.