Ratty Tail Feathers

[Disheygirl]

My year old Austra White has ratty tail feathers…the pictures don’t do it justice because she won’t hold still so I have to take video and then screen shot, but it looks like someone teased them. The other white bird is also an Austra White with more splash and her tail is what this one’s used to look like.

Comb, normal. Other feathers, fine - there is a place by her preen gland where the feathers are fewer than on her sisters but I don’t see anything wrong when I look around. Eating, drinking, laying, all normal. I don’t see bugs and nobody else has ratty feathers…. Should I douse her with elector just in case?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They look worn.

I wouldn't douse her with PSP unless you visually check her and detect bugs on her.

 

[Disheygirl]

They look worn.

I wouldn't douse her with PSP unless you visually check her and detect bugs on her.

How do they wear them? No rooster or dominant hen (well, not the mounting dominant kind).

Got a close up…like split ends in hair.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How do they wear them? No rooster or dominant hen (well, not the mounting dominant kind).

Got a close up…like split ends in hair.

Feathers get worn out throughout the year. Getting in to/out of nesting boxes, dust bathing, preening, pecking/plucking...just worn.

This is one reason why chickens usually molt once a year, to replace worn, broken and damaged feathers.

 

[citymeetscountry]

I was going to say she’s probably molting. My leghorns look rough right now and they’re molting (but also have fowl pox right now so hard to tell if it’s normal expected moot or more going on). You said she’s a year old and missing some other feathers near her preen gland. Keep an eye.