Can you tell when a chick hatches if it will be rumpless/tailless? I have two chicks left from my March hatch that ended up being rumpless. They are crosses, so I had no idea I'd end up with rumpless chicks. One of them is totally tailless, and the other has a couple of tiny tail feathers that point down at the ground. They are both cockerels so I won't be keeping them. However, I do have more eggs from one of my Araucana hens in the incubator. What should I be looking for when they hatch to know if they will be tailless when they grow up?
More rounded butts and look like they have slighty shorter backs... if they are going to have tails they usually show a tail tuft within the 1st few days if not when they hatch... getting rumpless in crosses is not unheard of if the Araucana used is rumpless, it's just not predictable... would love to see some pics!