Looing feathers around vent area and not laying

[rachelb]

Hi. My Buff Orp has not laid for over a month. She appears to be losing feathers, mostly soft downy ones from around her vent and under her wings. I checked her for mites and could not see anything (not really sure what I'm suppose to see) but she did seem to have lost a few feathers surrounding her vent as new ones were growing back. Any ideas please? Otherwise she is eating well and does not appear ill. She moulted earlier this year and I'm not convinced it is a moult as none of her tail or neck feathers etc are falling out. Thank you

 

[speckledhen]

Sounds like she's molting again to me. My Blue Orps are positively naked right now, although they are still laying. Wish they'd quit already and grow some feathers!