Chicken With No Tailfeathers!!!!!!

[barred-rocks-rock]

I have 5 five week old rhode island reds, and their is one (Ginger) who i am worried about. she is smaller than the others, and has no tail.
i also noticed that she has all feathers except those on her head. all the rest do. what should i do? need answers fast.

UPDATE:
9 Weeks old, tail is apparent . head feathers have grown, chick is still small. Obviously not a rhode island red, but has the same coloring. I have ruled out Buckeye, Auracana, Americauna, and Easter Egger, because she has a single comb. I have checked the Meyer Hatchery Site, from were i ordered the chicks, and the only explanation i could come up with is that she is a Red Sex Link. Would that explain the shortness?
I know she isnt a RIR bantam, because she is to big. I could use some answers!

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

oh yeah , i forgot to mention they live outside now. should i move her back in?

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

someone answer me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ghostchick]

I am new to this chicken thing, but maybe she is getting picked on due to her being the smallest? I have a small WC Polish that was tiny and was being picked on by the girls. He is now getting more "manly". Have you watched their behavior around this one?

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

yes . thats the weird thing . she doesnt appear to be being bullied. should i separate her from the others?

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

UPDATE!!!

Will be seven weeks old 7/26/09, and still has no tailfeathers!

Should I pretend shes a boy and name her Lucky, or should i keep hoping?

 

[big greg barker]

Where did you get these chicks from? Are you positive they are all RIRs? Is it possible that one may be an Easter Egger or an Aurucauna? As long as it appears healthy, let it grow and see what you got. Judging by the number of chicks you have, this is probably a just for fun hobby, so why not?

 

[Chickn chick 46]

I have a red star that is smaller than the rest, is about 8 weeks old and doesn't have tail feathers yet. She is doing fine, holding her own with others and is thriving at her own pace.

As long as she is getting along ok and is eating, don't worry, she is just smaller thats all.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

Quote:
Meyer Hatchery . I did notice that she had some strange markings on tthe side. It would be great to have an Americauna, but i now think she is a red star. and yeah, it is a hobby of mine. Read my title below.

 

[joletabey]

Somewhere I read (and forgive me, Meyer's, if I am dissing you) that many hatchery's RIR are really production reds. I want to order from Meyer's in the spring because they have the 5 breeds I want and a small order program, but I have worried that I won't get real RIR. I hope your little one turns out to be a heck of a producer for you!