Easter Egger with Feathers that look like long hairs?

[DoonerChicks]

I have an Easter Egger who is tan with some black, she's about seven months old. She was walking in the sunlight a couple of weeks ago and it looked like she had long strands of spider web hanging from the lower back half of her body. I went to try and pull them off and realized they were stuck to her, they are actually "feathers" I guess, but they look like long blond hairs, one every inch or so, from behind her legs to where her tail starts. They are about 4-5 inches longer than her regular feather, or at least the appear to be since they hang down like hair rather than staying up with the other regular feathers.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sounds like rooster saddle feathers, can you post a picture?

 

[DoonerChicks]

Its been overcast here and you can’t see the longest of the “hairs” unless the sun hits them, but the first two pictures might show the shorter ones enough to give an idea. She’s (?!) about 8 months old now and isn’t showing any rooster behavior... but I think she’s the only one of the 8 I got at the same time that isn’t laying still.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Definitely a hen. It's normal. You are seeing the down feathers which aren't as structured as the top feathers. Most chickens have fluffier feathers on their bottoms. She's adorable.

 

[21hens-incharge]

OHLD??

Do you see the strands that really do look like spider silk?

I think I see them in the first pic right behind her foot.
In the second pic just above and to the left of the large leaf.

Strange I have never seen those before.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

OHLD??

Do you see the strands that really do look like spider silk?

I think I see them in the first pic right behind her foot.
In the second pic just above and to the left of the large leaf.

Strange I have never seen those before.

Geez my old lady eyes, now I see them. That is weird, maybe a mutation? Good thing you're keeping your eyes on me.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have my bifocals on and blew that pic up as big as I could to see them.

I have seen "hair" feathers on dressed birds but they were all short.


Maybe name her Crystal after Crystal Gayle.

Note her hair!!!

 

[DoonerChicks]

Funny you say that! All ten of my chickens have Diva names, I named her Beyoncé because she was definitely the QueenB from the start... that was before her weird long “hairs” grew in. I guess she’s just doing her best to live up to the name.
About the no egg laying, are some chickens just late bloomers? The others have been laying for a 2-3 months now. She stepped into one of the boxes today for the first time I’ve seen, but jumped right back out after a few seconds.

 

[DoonerChicks]

I just opened the video you shared, holy moly that’s some serious hair!!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have had several late bloomers.

I wouldn't worry yet about her tardiness.

Crazy hair lol.