might she be moulting?

[mr darcy]

Scarlet, who was hatched in June and has been in lay since October, is loosing alot of feathers at the base of her wings, top of legs and tail, Mr D too seems to have lost some? pests? Mr D's passionate attentions? moult? Scarlet still laying a little egg everyday bless her...

[Suechooks]

She's a bit young for a moult. All mine have gone through their first winter without moulting. Maybe Mr D is too assiduous (sp?) in his attentions. Check for lice - scuttling beige things or their eggs at base of feathers particularly round vent.