Hi everyone this is my first time on this fourm and a first time owning a bird.

I have had little skittles for a year now and I have noticed the she has a small grouping of black feathers on both of her wings. initially it was only a few now it seem to be getting more and more (i count about 6-7 on each wing). Also her tail was perfect but i have noticed the tips are getting black on the edges I am not sure if this is related but I am begining to get worried. Can anyone tell me if this is diet problem or some thing worse?

I have no answer for you! I am sorry, can you get clear pictures of them to post?

It's probably either diet or stress related. What you are describing sounds like "stress bars". I'm afraid I'm not really up on what causes them other than diet and stress.

Vet visit for sure!!!

What feather group is it, do you know? Is it the primary flight feathers? Which are the ones on the lower edge of the wing and the first 10 from the outside of the wing. In adult quakers the feathers are a dark blue which may look black in some light. This is normal. As far as the ones on his tail it does sound like stress bars which in actuality is a fatty deposit on the feather and that stress can be caused from any number of things anywhere from just a bump when the feathers are first starting to form or something might have upset him and there's a zillion and one things that could cause that.

Perhaps a photo of the feathers you are worried about would help us. But I like to say that if in doubt, a trip to the vet is in order just to ease your mind if nothing else.

Sorry i should have put a picture up with my original post.

Interesting...is it equally that way on the other side? I have to say I haven't seen anything quite like this except when a bird is wet. I think I would talk to a vet and see what they think....

Connie, that's the same thing I was thinking, I've only ever seen that look on birds that are wet. I definitely think you get should get a vet to look at Skittles and see what he thinks. Please keep us posted, I'm very curious to see what would be causing that...

From what we were told with our love birds, that is cause by one of 2 things: diet or melanism.

Melanism is genetic and you really won't know if that is the case until after a molt and the coloring stays.

Diet - could be anything, but usually caused by something they aren't suppose to have. Our love birds got the coloration because they nibbled on a wall corner and even though we did everything to prevent them from nibbling, that caused dark coloring on their feathers. After a molt the dark spots on the female were gone, but the male has retained some of the odd coloring.

A black quaker after he or she has had the first molt???? wow wouldnt that be great ?? sorry i know this could be serious but that would be something...