Chicken Tail Feathers

[EllaGrace1]

This morning, when letting out our 5 RIR hens, I noticed that almost all of them have kind of messed up/distorted tail feathers? We’re new to raising chickens and don’t want it to be something too serious. We just added some higher protein food to their diet because we were having behavior issues (thank yall for the suggestion, it’s seeming to be helping!!) They’re about 10 months old and we know molting is coming up. Is this molting, something else, or just nothing at all? I attached a couple pictures of the more weird looking ones. On the brown one you can’t see as well, but shes our skittish one so I couldn’t really get closer.

 

[GodLovesU]

The second chicken is not a Rhode Island red. Have you seen the chickens pecking each other?It’s kinda late for them to be molting.Have you checked for mites or lice?

 

[EllaGrace1]

The second chicken is not a Rhode Island red. Have you seen the chickens pecking each other?It’s kinda late for them to be molting.Have you checked for mites or lice?

About a week ago, they were all kind of moody and pecking each other. We think the pecking order was rearranging but we’re still monitoring them. We haven’t checked for mites or lice since we don’t really know how. Our chickens don’t really like being touched but if we have to, I’m sure we can.
About the chicken not being a RIR, we kind of suspected. At Tractor Supply we (supposedly) bought 6 RIR hens but her and another one are different. One of those already turned out to be a rooster so we have no idea what they are lol.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

We haven’t checked for mites or lice since we don’t really know how. Our chickens don’t really like being touched but if we have to, I’m sure we can.

Using a flashlight or headlamp and doing this after dark, keeping it dim helps prevent any chasing. They can be removed from roost, holding their wings tight to their back prevents panic and possible injury to yourself from flogging.. then parting the feathers below the vent and on the abdomen.. look for crawlie things running away from the light and take note if the skin looks angry red or scabby or more standard pale (pink or yellow) and smooth. Also are there little clumps (nits) at the base of the feathers.

Some mites (commonly called roost mites) don't live on the birds but only come out to feed on them at night.. using a white paper towel and running under the roost a few hours after dark, looking for red smears left on the towel is one way of checking for those.

Do you still have the cockerel in your flock?

Depending on your location and individual genetics, your birds *may* not molt until next fall. Their feather quality will not improve until they do molt.. and may become more tattered along the way from general wear and tear and also preening.

ETA: what I'm seeing currently does look *more* like peckinig order dynamics or mounting related.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Have they been confined in small spaces?

If you have a cockerel and he's mating the pullets, this will sometimes damage feathers.

I wouldn't worry too much for now.

 

[EllaGrace1]

Using a flashlight or headlamp and doing this after dark, keeping it dim helps prevent any chasing. They can be removed from roost, holding their wings tight to their back prevents panic and possible injury to yourself from flogging.. then parting the feathers below the vent and on the abdomen.. look for crawlie things running away from the light and take note if the skin looks angry red or scabby or more standard pale (pink or yellow) and smooth. Also are there little clumps (nits) at the base of the feathers.

Some mites (commonly called roost mites) don't live on the birds but only come out to feed on them at night.. using a white paper towel and running under the roost a few hours after dark, looking for red smears left on the towel is one way of checking for those.

Do you still have the cockerel in your flock?

Depending on your location and individual genetics, your birds *may* not molt until next fall. Their feather quality will not improve until they do molt.. and may become more tattered along the way from general wear and tear and also preening.

ETA: what I'm seeing currently does look *more* like peckinig order dynamics or mounting related.

We will check for mites and lice tonight, thank you! We got rid of our rooster about a month ago, but we have seen a couple hens mount the others in, what we read, was pecking order dominance.

 

[EllaGrace1]

Have they been confined in small spaces?

If you have a cockerel and he's mating the pullets, this will sometimes damage feathers.

I wouldn't worry too much for now.

They haven’t been confined. Coop is 5ftx5ft, run is 10ftx40ft, and they have free range time. They were kept in the run over the weekend since we were on vacation. Rooster was rehomed in September, however we have seen some of the hens mount the others in pecking order dominance (from what we read).