How Feathers Are Made

Freya is going through a moult just now, and while Skye was the Queen of Moults (she used to go practically bald in November / December), Freya has managed to lose all of her tail feathers, all of the downy egg-sitting feathers, and a good portion from elsewhere, especially her shoulders (while moulting her legs and beak have gone particularly yellow as well, and her eyes bright orangey red).
When a new feather grows it's the hard, plastic-like bit of the quill that pushes through the skin first. This is hollow, and the actual feather follows, coming through the tube (the shots of the shoulders probably demonstrate this best). Give her another 2 - 3 weeks and she'll be looking utterly resplendent in a new coat.