Post Phoenix Pics Please

[Toplongtailfowl]

Thank you. Yes most of my hens have a wider dabbed tail like the pures. This usually a better bird when it's fanned vs narrow

 

[rambob59]

Yea that's what I look for in my hens. So far I only have a couple.

 

[rambob59]

Who asked me for eggs from my Easter eager toppie hen inside my phoenix pen? I have pictures for them but don't know who it was.

 

[EZFarms]

how do you guys get the tails to grow so long and stay nice? kernels wont get any longer then maybe a foot and it starts breaking or getting messed up from dragging

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Genetics are tge main thing. A phoenix has a set point that it will grow to each molt,,then hardens off. A good high protein diet is a good idea to help the males and keep hens from picking the blood feathers. But lines are the main thing. A good breeder line for example will massivly out grow a hatchery line bird.
Housing is what keeps the tails in good shape. Thick bedding and little to no pen mates is best for a perfect show male. Pens mates pooping and stepping on tails ia a sure way to get them ratty and broken. Fully roofed and dry pens are a must. Wet muddy pens are a no no. High perches help too.
But even with all this, if you are going to breed them, they be messed up in a couple.months. mostbthe nice pics you see are either isolated males, or ones taken right after the regrowth period is done... We all breed them of course, and it doesnt take long for a pen full of hens to ruin a nice tail

 

[EZFarms]

i Have one male who lives with all my other birds and his tail is still growing back from molt but already has crud in it. is it weird for it to curl or look like the feathers have waves in them? His are doing that and im not sure why. i also have a younger one but im not sure if its male or female yet

 

[rambob59]

I've been having issues on what to feed lately but just changed to 27.7% protein pellets and occasionally will give fruit and fish food. Be best male only has 1 long tail feather because everything else was pecked off by his hen. Same with the offspring she took care of lol. The chicks had no tails since hatch till 1.5 months old then I took mommy away and feathers began to grown. They are only 5 months now.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Diet sounds perfect but you have a habitual feather picker now looks like. You will have to move molting birds away from her every time til they harden off.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Nikki. Thats what
i was referring to earlier . about how pen mates will mess up a tail quick. Some birds do tend to get wavy tails, though no, its not common. Saddles often seem to be the most frequently seem areas that will get a wave shape to them. But converts can too. I have had a few non molter males do that. If the tail is super cruddy. That could possibly be thw issue. Wash it, and isolate him or at least cut way back on pen mates and see if that doesnt fix him up

 

[EZFarms]

Alright and its actually his main sickle feathers that are doing that.
hes not a show bird either way hes way to flighty and jumpy