Strange feathers

[Keeperofmunchkins]

He is eleven months old. I have other chickens but they live outdoors and eat their pellets just fine plus free range so no issues there.
I can't remember exactly what was going on when he was growing these tail feathers a few months ago BUT now that I think about it, it might have been around that time that I attempted to introduce him to the outdoor flock. Even in a look but no touch situation he was terrified of them.

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

Some background info: he was a lone chick incubator hatched from a batch of ebay eggs. I was unable to find any other chicks for sale with it being winter so had to hand raise him on his own. He must have been lonely because he always seemed reluctant to eat so I hand fed him moistened pellets when he was a baby. When he was sexually mature I tried to introduce him to the flock but he hates being outside and is scared of the hens. Plus he is a booted bantam with these ridiculously long foot feathers that are not really suitable for free ranging anyway, so I figured it was best to just let him live indoors. I work from home so he doesn't get lonely.

 

[coach723]

Obviously you are far better able to judge his happiness than we are from a distance. If you can stand the idea, maybe in the future try to find him a very submissive hen that is his size, and try to introduce them one on one, rather than him alone with a big group. He may be able to adjust to that better and may help with his overall happiness. Just a thought. Good luck with him!