crooked tail

[apc]

I have to serama roosters that have a crooked/broken tail. Is this genetic? Id assume its a huge conformation flaw...does this only happen in certain breeds? no pics to post at the moment...on college break and using my phone to stay updated on byc

Im such an addict

 

[karabbitry]

I can be genetic or environmental. It is called wry tail and it is a DQ from show. I usually think that it is a genetic fault. However it can be caused in the brooded if he got smashed or something like that. I don't ever breed from one just incase it is genetic.

 

[BarkerChickens]

It could be wry tail (the tail will lean to one side...like it is leaning). It is a genetic flaw in the lower vertebrae (though other reasons have been proposed as well such as high temp incubation, injury, etc). We had a Delaware roo (beautiful rooster!!) with wry tail. When we butchered him (we didn't want to breed him in case he passed it on), the actual tail (bony-fleshy area where the feathers grow from) was crooked (we had previously hoped it was a just crooked feathering). I'd imagine it has to be a DQ for showing. It is not life threatening and won't affect his life, so while he may not be good breeding quality, he will be fine for keeping as a pet.

 

[catwalk]

wry tail is a Serama DQ. Does he hold it to the side all the time, or just on occasion? If he's young, his tail muscles may not be developed enough to hold it straight. In that case, chop it off short so it's not weighed down to one side or the other. This tip was reccommended to me on the SCNA website to prevent young, non-genetic wry tails from growing up that way. I did it to one of mine, and it's molting in great so far!

 

[catwalk]

Before chop:

It's current look, at seven months old: