Chicken with a crooked tail - how should I treat it?

[sean_wonder]

I agree, but the article did say it can occur from injury or illness, so if this is a sudden change in adulthood and not just chick to adulthood change (not sure how sudden the change is yet) I would just check around the tail area for wounds. Most likely wry tail, but can never be too careful

 

[Duck_life]

I agree, but the article did say it can occur from injury or illness, so if this is a sudden change in adulthood and not just chick to adulthood change (not sure how sudden the change is yet) I would just check around the tail area for wounds. Most likely wry tail, but can never be too careful

Luckily, if it was an injury, it wouldn't hurt to bad since it doesn't look nearly as bad as the chickens tail in the article.

 

[Duck_life]

It looks like the picture I posted. They are on layers feed, scratch, and cooked whole oats and scraps

That is good, do you provide oyster shells though for calcium?

 

[Pennys Mama]

I'm almost certain that's wry tail. @aart @Eggcessive

I never knew there was such a thing!

 

[Eggcessive]

My rooster developed wry tail as he matured and he had it at 4 months old. It is a genetic problem that can be passed on to progeny, so I would not hatch eggs from that chicken.

 

[aart]

They are on layers feed, scratch, and cooked whole oats and scraps

I would cut out all but the layer feed.

 

[LeeMcQuay]

My bantams tail is leaning to one side, but doesn't really look like the one pictured above. Maybe because mine is a rooster. His tail is really tall so I wanted to ask y'all if it is wry tail or just the eight of it?
Thank you in advance

 

[Duck_life]

My bantams tail is leaning to one side, but doesn't really look like the one pictured above. Maybe because mine is a rooster. His tail is really tall so I wanted to ask y'all if it is wry tail or just the eight of it?
Thank you in advanceView attachment 1957026 View attachment 1957028 View attachment 1957031 View attachment 1957026 View attachment 1957028

Looks like wry tail to me, could be something else though, don't worry about it unless things change in his behavior.

 

[LeeMcQuay]

Thank you
Is there something I can give him that will fix his tail? It looks uncomfortable to me even though it doesn't appear to affect him yet. It has only been like that for a day though.

 

[Eggcessive]

He is a handsome cockerel. That does look like wry tail, and nothing would treat that genetic problem. When my young rooster developed it, it seemed to appear one day, and it would not always be apparent. It seemed like an involuntary muscle spasm, but it appeared that way even when relaxed. Here is some reading about wry tail:
https://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-help/What-is-wry-tail-H305.aspx

https://articles.extension.org/pages/65944/wry-tail