Hens loosing tail feathers?

[KaelaM]

I have two 15 week old hens one of them has lost all of her tail feathers and the other only has a couple left. Is there anything I should do about this? I also have two roosters of the same age who I am trying to find homes for. Could they have caused this?

 

[teach1rusl]

I don't recall any of my pullets of that age losing tail feathers, so I'd say you have some feather pulling going on. It could be the boys getting rough with them, trying to grab for mating, or you could just have a meanie, not mating related. But since it's only the females getting plucked, I'd guess it's one (or both) of the males trying to assert dominance by grabbing - just a guess. I'd separate the males - hormonal cockerels can be overly aggressive, and two on two is NOT good odds for the pullets.

 

[centrarchid]

My birds loose tail feathers three times as they grow. First time is in range of 5 to 8 weeks, second time is about time you are seeing it now and third time is when birds are about 24 weeks. Only after changeover in feathers complete for the third time do I expect to see eggs. Breed influences timing. Some go earlier, some later.

I do nothing since process natural.

 

[teach1rusl]

Hmmm...cent. had me curious, so I went back to look at bunches of old pictures of my chickens' progression. I couldn't find any where my birds lost their tails??? The only time I've had tail-less chickens was two severe molters, and they barely had any feathers anywhere. Now, some pics they certainly didn't have their full glorious tails, but I guess new feathers came in as old ones were going out. So OP, are you talking plucked looking butt/tail area, or natural looking, stumpier looking???? That would make a difference in how we're interpreting "no tail."

 

[centrarchid]

Hmmm...cent. had me curious, so I went back to look at bunches of old pictures of my chickens' progression. I couldn't find any where my birds lost their tails??? The only time I've had tail-less chickens was two severe molters, and they barely had any feathers anywhere. Now, some pics they certainly didn't have their full glorious tails, but I guess new feathers came in as old ones were going out. So OP, are you talking plucked looking butt/tail area, or natural looking, stumpier looking???? That would make a difference in how we're interpreting "no tail."

See post second image of post #9 in following thread.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/535707/partial-eclipse-molt-in-american-game#post_9180280


Chick is molting from chick to juvenile feather set. Chick set is pointy and below with bars. American Dominiques do similar but are much more likely to have all feathers drop out before new set comes in. Same pattern repeats as birds molt from juvenile to first adult set which in some breeds occurs with interval bracketing 15 weeks. Again my doms run about buttless for a week or so. The buttless deal is very much breed dependent.

I have not done time lapse with a production breed yet but will provide good evidence for what I just related to you when it is done.

 

[Summer98]

I'm noticing this on some of my EE pullets and I suspect it's the roosters doing it to them.

 

[centrarchid]

Best image I have showing juveniles in the 15 to 20 week age range. Several doms have tails that barely project beyond contour feathers. Aspect is terrible.

 

[KaelaM]

Okay thanks. Would it help if I posted a few pictures?

 

[Indigosands]

Mine are missing their tails and a good portion of their flight feathers as well. They have been slowly moulting over the past three weeks and they are in the range of 14-15 weeks also. One of my BSL's looks ridiculous. She has one looonggg scraggly feather sticking straight up where her tail used to be. LOL

 

[centrarchid]

Okay thanks. Would it help if I posted a few pictures?

Yes,