By what age do tail feathers usually start growing in?

[MichelleBelle]

I've had several batches of baby chicks purchased from hatcheries and breeders, as well as hatched a couple batches here at home. In all the baby chicks I've observed, they usually have tail feathers at least starting to come in by 2 weeks. I currently have a batch of chicks that are almost 3 weeks old, and all but one chick have considerable tail feather development. The chick without any tail feather development whatsoever is a cross between Ameraucana and barred rock. It's otherwise healthy and feathering in nicely on the rest of the body- just no tail feathers. Will this little one be "rumpless" or is it possible the tail feathers will come in later?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

It's just coming in later.

In SOME breeds... the lack of tail means it will be a boy.

 

[EggWalrus]

It's a Boy!
It's a Boy!
It's a Boy!

Your the proud parent of a bouncing baby boy!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

It's a Boy!
It's a Boy!
It's a Boy!

Your the proud parent of a bouncing baby boy!

There was a point in time when the short tail confirmed boy EVERY single time... BUT that changed with my Speckled Sussex, and some short tails were female.

I believe the short tail will happen in males when you breed a fast feathering breed to a slow feathering breed... genetics is so fascinating! It's a lot to digest and retain though... so I'm sure I still have plenty of mistakes to male and learn from.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I believe the short tail will happen in males when you breed a fast feathering breed to a slow feathering breed... genetics is so fascinating!

In considering this again... I feel like I might be thinking about the fast crossed to slow feathering effecting feather sexing with the wing tips....

 

[Chickassan]

Might be a boy might just be genetics.Tails are usually coming in by 2 weeks and mainly there by 3 but there are always exceptions. Here is one of my latest brood in 6 days they will all be 1 month old. One is a little behind even though she is definitly a she. It happens, all you can do is wait.

 

[MichelleBelle]

Everyone who said it's a boy- y'all were spot on!! This little chick is definitely a boy. He's got a prominent comb that is pink, he ruffles up his neck feathers and runs up to the other chicks with quite the attitude. So cute. His daddy is a super awesome rooster, so I'm hoping he inherited some good behavioral traits