Broken tail feathers..any possible way this occurred naturally?

[glassdragonfly]

I have seen some very pretty tail feathers in hats before!

 

[----------]

that was an inhumain dirtybird human there are still a lot of sickos around . they probably will return .some people make feather earrings too .

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

Def. human. The cuts are too clean, too straight. People are sick. I hope you catch the jerk.

 

[angiejbrown]

Can't see his spurs or the rest of his feather's to guage age. How old is he? He looks like a Rhodie mix.
Can you get us some better pics?

Unfortunately I don’t actually have any pictures of him before hand, his spurs are only about half an inch long but I think he was a very late developer because he’s probably 9 months old by now.

 

[angiejbrown]

Def. human. The cuts are too clean, too straight. People are sick. I hope you catch the jerk.

I agree, I think it’s a person, it’s definitely not molting because it’s just the tips of the feathers probably about 3 inches cut off and the lines are way too straight I don’t think it’s possible that another chicken could’ve done that to him and it look like it does. There’s a lot of punk kids in the area and that’s my guess, I’m putting up a trail cam and if I catch them it’s not going to be good.. :/

 

[angiejbrown]

that was an inhumain dirtybird human there are still a lot of sickos around . they probably will return .some people make feather earrings too .

Well I hope to get a pic of their face on a trail cam :/

 

[angiejbrown]

Sounds like your boy has not just been hen pecked, but also hen plucked!

If he was in a pen like you described, another bird probably did the dirty deed. Plus depending on how old he and his feathers are, he could be molting or just getting old brittle feathers (especially if he hasn't had his first adult molt).
Short of being some young punk ass kid, it would take a lot of guts for an adult to go in there with scissors, catch a rooster, and cut its tail off. And if it was an adult, be careful, it would take someone seriously mentally ill to do that kind of sick stuff. Other than a kid, why would anyone do such a thing? You haven't pissed off the wrong person, have you?
Just kidding! even if someone got pissed off, it would take a really sick person to mutilate a defenseless animal like that. Hopefully, it was just some other birds that did it.

He actually wouldn’t be hard to catch at all because I handle him quite a bit so he’s very easy to pick up, I have a good relationship with my close neighbors but my guess is some punk kids in the area because there are a lot. :/ i’m just very glad he’s actually not hurt or I would probably be going ballistic. It’s very violating to have someone enter my privacy fence, especially since it starts at the back of my house and someone would’ve had to walk through my driveway, through my carport to get to the fence. The disregard that people have for another persons property these days is mind boggling.

 

[angiejbrown]

Chickens have been known to eat feathers also.

Do you have any pics of him before his feathers disappeared?

unfortunately I do not have any before pics of his tail, but he is missing probably 3” of green iridescent sickle/tail feathers

 

[EggWalrus]

If he's only about 9 months old he's probably not doing his 1st adult molt.
It's pretty creepy if they are going thru your house or garage to get out back. Have you checked to see if anything is missing from the garage?
A camera is the way to go, and then press charges.

 

[angiejbrown]

If he's only about 9 months old he's probably not doing his 1st adult molt.
It's pretty creepy if they are going thru your house or garage to get out back. Have you checked to see if anything is missing from the garage?
A camera is the way to go, and then press charges.

They went through the carport which isn’t enclosed, and I had a push mower stolen about 2 months ago, not sure if it would be the same people or not. I’m more upset about the feathers though, the idea of someone handling my birds while trespassing makes me livid. I’m so glad he hasn’t been hurt. Putting up a cam soon and I hope no one comes back, but if they do I plan to absolutely prosecute if I can get a pic of their face and find them.