Frayed Feathers and Sandy Skin?

[Peristeria]

So yesterday while looking at my quail I noticed one had very frayed feathers. When I moved her feathers in that area out of the way, there seemed to be sand-like stuff just hanging out right there. It is only in that one patch of frayed feathers. She is losing some feathers from the spot but she has already molted. They occasionally get on the ground but it gets dark to quickly from the time I get home because of daylight savings time so they haven't been on the ground for about 2 weeks.

She is on wire, no changes in food or water, she is the only one that would let our male mate with her before she stopped laying suddenly, and she has already molted for the winter. I do not see any bugs. Any ideas? Mites? Treatments? Thanks!

Under her left wing

The frayed area

A little bit of the sandy stuff and missing feathers

Some more sandy stuff but worse photo quality

 

[Ravenlover]

@Nabiki @Kiki @007Sean @FloorCandy Ever seen this ?

 

[Peristeria]

It turns out she just was sandy from sand bathing because I took out the sand to make sure. I still am worried about the feather loss. It is just strange since she already molted for the winter .

 

[Ravenlover]

uh oh sorry for pinging people i was trying to be nice.

 

[Peristeria]

uh oh sorry for pinging people i was trying to be nice.

Should I be worried about the feather loss? It is like I barely move one feather and it comes gently out of its follicle, but only in the one part of her back. Many are staying on but also many are coming out.

 

[Ravenlover]

I am no expert

 

[FloorCandy]

Should I be worried about the feather loss? It is like I barely move one feather and it comes gently out of its follicle, but only in the one part of her back. Many are staying on but also many are coming out.

Idk to be honest. I treat mine like livestock for the most part. I don’t usually interact as closely as many people do. I’ve had many molting lately and if I touch them they shed a lot of feathers, I don’t worry unless they act weird. I have several with ratty looking plumage, and Ive just chalked it up to probably gonna molt soon. But if your bird is a cherished pet I don’t want to say don’t sweat it, and then, oh no it’s suddenly on deaths door.