1 yr old hens losing feathers only on their belly

[NanaDebbie]

We recently discovered several of our hens are missing most of their feather on their belly only. They seem healthy otherwise. Checked for mites, didn't see any at all but will check this evening, while they are roosting, to see if we can find any.
Can anyone give us some idea's as to what could be happening here?

On another note; After having hens for over two years, we recently discovered that two of our girls had bumblefoot. We did the, most awful, surgery, on them and ne ended up not making it. Horrible when your a huge animal lover. We have tried to take every precaution in keeping their coop safe but, once again, today, we did another check on all the girls and, not one, but six, have bumblefoot. Very devastating, to say the least.

 

[Alaskan]

We recently discovered several of our hens are missing most of their feather on their belly only.  They seem healthy otherwise.  Checked for mites, didn't see any at all but will check this evening, while they are roosting, to see if we can find any. 
Can anyone give us some idea's as to what could be happening here? 

On another note; After having hens for over two years, we recently discovered that two of our girls had bumblefoot.  We did the, most awful, surgery, on them and ne ended up not making it. Horrible when your a huge animal lover.  We have tried to take every precaution in keeping their coop safe but, once again, today, we did another check on all the girls and, not one, but six, have bumblefoot.  Very devastating, to say the least. 

Just first on the bumble foot. Have you tried lowering perches... Having more steps/ladders etc. so they are less likely to jump high distances?

Also, thick softer bedding?

(I am NOT saying that you are doing anything wrong... Supposedly you can get it in your soil.. And you can do everything perfect and still have issues... Just trying to help you think through anything that might minimize the problem)

Anyway... BUGS and parasites! -blah- supposedly looking around the vent is the best spot to look. Also, the parasites, even if they are the kinda that live on the perches and not on the bird, will leave very tiny freckle spots of bite marks all over the bird's skin.

OK... Do check them... But it might be just fine.

I find that my super high production birds will tend to pluck out their belly feathers in the summer.... Dunno why, I do NOT get hot up here (high 50s, to low 60s).

Sometimes a broody will also pluck out her belly feathers, AND some birds have the craziest molting patterns.. They can look fully diseased when they molt. All kinds pf crazy. Between 1 and 1.6 years of age is when they go through a crazy big molt.