Interesting Tail Feathers on Chick

[LearnAsUGo]

I noticed today this chick’s tail feathers are a little thinner (almost look Lacey) than the others. Up close they look kind of ragged. Unsure whether that is a genetic thing or if she/he is being picked on. Anyone have any ideas???? The chicks are 5 weeks old and have a good amount of space. This one does seem to hang on it’s own a little, but I have never seen them picking on her/him.

 

[Tookie]

It does look like it could be feather picking. But she's still growing so maybe that's how her feathers are, and they may change. For now I would just wait and watch.

 

[My Three Chicks]

One of my adult girls started having tail feathers like that and then it even got thinner and more ragged. I thought maybe it was feather mites but didn’t see anything and vet confirmed no mites. Just in case I’d suggest you check for mites although it doesn’t look like it.
In the end we decided mine must have been rubbing her tail feathers against the side of the wood coop while roosting at night. Could your guy be rubbing up against something?
If not it could be excessive grooming. Or feather pecking by another chick like mentioned. But it doesn’t look severe so I wouldn’t worry too much if you haven’t noticed anything else amiss.
He’s a cutie by the way!

 

[MGG]

What feed are you feeding? A feed with too low of protein frequently causes feather picking like that, by either the bird itself or its brooder mates.
It's their way of trying to get the protein they're craving.
How big is your brooder and how many birds are in it? Is it kept clean? And do they have a heat source? A too-hot brooder can also cause aggression, which can manifest as plucking other birds.

 

[LearnAsUGo]

One of my adult girls started having tail feathers like that and then it even got thinner and more ragged. I thought maybe it was feather mites but didn’t see anything and vet confirmed no mites. Just in case I’d suggest you check for mites although it doesn’t look like it.
In the end we decided mine must have been rubbing her tail feathers against the side of the wood coop while roosting at night. Could your guy be rubbing up against something?
If not it could be excessive grooming. Or feather pecking by another chick like mentioned. But it doesn’t look severe so I wouldn’t worry too much if you haven’t noticed anything else amiss.
He’s a cutie by the way!

Thank you! I’ll watch for sure. I have checked them for mites but will check this baby again today and update here in a few weeks!

 

[LearnAsUGo]

What feed are you feeding? A feed with too low of protein frequently causes feather picking like that, by either the bird itself or its brooder mates.
It's their way of trying to get the protein they're craving.
How big is your brooder and how many birds are in it? Is it kept clean? And do they have a heat source? A too-hot brooder can also cause aggression, which can manifest as plucking other birds.

Their feed is a non-GMO grower feed that is 18% protein. I ferment it and add herbs. I’ve started introducing fresh herbs and snacks as well as some leafy green seedlings in pots so they can have the dirt for extra grit. They also get chick grit regularly. They have a dust bath with herbs and I started adding our yard dirt so they can be exposed to the microbes in our yard to build immunities. They have started to get some outside free range time every few days this week. We are in north Florida so it’s still warm enough! Their brooder is actually a two story pen sold as a chicken coop for 6 full grown birds. The heat source is set to only come on if the temp falls below 70 and is a ceramic reptile bulb. They also have a brooding plate available all the time set up in one of the nesting boxes of the cage. They have hemp bedding with some zeolite in there. Lots of air flow at all times but covered at night to prevent drafts.
My family pets do like to check them out BUT they can always go up top in the second story and not see or be seen by the pets and for the most part they have all adjusted to them.
There are six babies. See pic attached.