Why do my duck's new feathers look like quills sticking out?

The pictures are really blurry so it's hard to see, but if you're seeing round cylinder-like feathers protruding from the skin that is likely a pin feather. This is a normal feather that is growing back in after the old one is lost. If your bird recently lost a lot of feathers and is now growing them back, they likely were molting, which is normal! This is just the normal replacement of old feathers with new ones. If Sheephony seems cold, moving them to a warmer location until their feathers have regrown can help.

It is difficult to fully appreciate what you are describing in the images provided. Red quills may be due to trauma, infection or even a defect. As long as there is no active bleeding and Neptune is behaving normally then you can simply monitor him. If the feathers appear to cause him discomforts, you can have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian. If necessary, the feathers can be plucked and new ones will grow in place. Do not attempt to pluck the feathers on your own.

As far as I can see from the photo, the feathers look normal and healthy. Some color change and darkening of feathers is normal, and the feathers may continue to change somewhat until Pa Pa reaches maturity. Molts can also change feather color some as old feathers fall out and new ones come in. If he is otherwise healthy, normal, and active, I wouldn't be worried. If the feathers change rapidly, fall out, seem bothersome, or you notice any signs of illness in addition to the changes, scheduling a checkup with your local vet to rule out any health issues is always the best course of action.

Those look like they may be pin feathers growing out, especially if Maui is molting. Pin feathers are pin-looking like feathers that are the new feathers that grow in as the old ones fall out. They look like little needles poking out of the skin, and once erupted enough will fan out into a regular feather. Pin feathers are 100% normal!

These look like new feathers growing out. New feathers are very well vasculated, ie they carry blood while growing. Here is more information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/broken-blood-feathers-first-aid-and-removal-what-to-do-when/

Thanks for reaching out about Rico and including photos. This is probably the result of new flight feathers having grown in after a molt. Monitor the color of the feathers as they can dull due to dietary deficiencies (not enough vegetables or protein) or excessive petting. When petting the birds, the oils come off the hand and can make the feathers dark. This is not a health concern, but occasional showers can help. Good luck.

Thanks for adding in a photo! From the photo, it looks like Meenu might be molting! This is normal in all birds, and happens when they replace their old feathers with new ones. Baby birds will also have a molt as they reach adulthood, losing their soft downy feathers (the wispy ones in the picture) and replacing them with their adult feathers. It is very normal for colors to change somewhat during a molt as brighter colors come in, and the feathers may fade some with time as well. As long as Meenu is otherwise healthy and happy, it isn't anything to be worried about. To see if your bird is growing in new feathers you can look for pin feathers (small like needle-like things poking out of the skin). Making sure Meenu is on a healthy balanced diet can help make sure she has a good molt and grows in healthy new feathers.