help...tail feathers - broke!!!

[blueheaven]

i just noticed on almost all my 8 chickens tail feathers appear to have been cut.

why would the be?

the only think i could think of is the nest boxes being too small when they lay eggs, it breaks the feathers.

 

[Kittymomma]

I've heard of that happeing when there are rodents in the coop--apparently they'll chew the ends off at night and use them for nesting material.

 

[blueheaven]

awe...
the only time they would be able to do that is when they are roosting and that seems like it would be hard.
i have a coop/tractor and have never seen any signs of rodents.

any other ideas?

 

[MuranoFarms]

Do you have a duck? lol Mine likes to grab tail feathers. All my roosters have short tails now.

 

[blueheaven]

no ducks...no roosters. just eight 1 year old hens.