Roo tailfeathers regrow?

[GoodEgg]

Hi all,

I have a new dumb question.

My little Jap roo, while being the alpha roo around the boys, will take a bit of punishment from the girls. (They're all 3 or 4 times his size, so he might not have a choice!) I don't know if that's what happened to his tailfeathers or what ... The long, pretty straightish ones that stood up above the others got broken about a week or two ago, and now they are missing.

Now for the dumb question ... I'm guessing they won't regrow until molting, right? Which I could expect ... next year, since he's a June 2007 chick?

Just wondering. I wish I'd taken pics while he was in his glory! I love that little roo, even though he avoids me like the plague!

trish

 

[chickenlady]

Your right, they wont grow back until he molts. You could pull them out altogether. Grab at the base of the feather with needle nose plies and pull. It doesnt seem to bother them. I just got done pulling feathers from a few birds myself. None of the feathers I pulled out bled. Just be careful not to pull out new pin feathers. The pulled feathers should regrow in about 6-8 weeks. Good luck.

 

[CtlisencedArborist]

HUH?why are you pulling your poor babys feathers out to begin with?I didnt see in there post that they wanted to pull there poor birds feathers out ?Lol,you must of lost me on that one,lol

 

[CtlisencedArborist]

I cant shake the pic in my head of you with one of your roos with one hand holding his head and the other hand pulling out all his butt feathers with needlenose pliers!lol

 

[chickenlady]

I know it sounds harsh, and I would never pull out ALL the tail feathers. When preping a bird for a show, for example, about 8-12 weeks out from the show date, if there are any broken feathers (which would cost you points) it is a common practice to pull out the broken feather so a new one can regrow. Wing feathers, tail feathers, feet feathers, what ever feather may have broken. A judge will not take off points for a feather that is growing in but will take off for broken ones.

It took me a while to pull my first feather and I was quite upset, but the bird did not even react to it. It had no clue I just plucked a feather. Now there is a pin feather coming in and in no time at all, the bird will be 100% again. If you think about it, birds pull out their feathers (or others feathers) all the time, a new one just grows in to replace it. If one wants to wait until molt, that is their decision. I was just giving another option. I'm sorry if I upset anyone.

 

[GoodEgg]

Thanks for the info ... that was about what I expected. I'm halfway hoping that someone pulled the broken feather for him (they do appear to be completely gone, but the "stub" could be hidden in the other feathers without me seeing it). If one of the others pulled his feathers they will regrow then?

I don't think I'll be pulling them. They are so long, most likely they will just get broken again, if the come back soon while the birds are acting as they do now.

I'll just be knowing that, when they DO regrow (next year or this) I'll take the pics quickly!

I guess that's the problem with tails like Jap banties ... so pretty but I think probably so prone to breaking. Hopefully by the time they come back in, the pecking order will be more established and everyone grown out of their teenager stage, and maybe he can keep them longer.

Thanks again,
trish

 

[Blisschick]

Feathers are essentially "hair", so if one gets pulled out, it will grow a new one, and you won't have to wait until the bird molts. Molting usually occurs in the fall, and the bird will either lose it's feathers gradually (like mine, because our climate is warm) or they may lose most of them at once and look pretty ugly for a couple of weeks.

My little banty boy got caught and "played with" by one of my dogs and lost all his tail feathers, but they all grew back in and he has an even better tail.

The "Ugliest Bird" contest should be happening soon, since fall is coming and birds are bound to drop their old duds. I can't wait, because some are pretty outrageous!

 

[GoodEgg]

Ugliest bird?

I haven't heard of that before. Looking forward to it!

trish