Why doesn't my chicken have a tail?

[FunClucks]

I have a 13 wk old ISA Brown (red sex-link) hen that never grew a tail? Not sure how to describe it. She has like three white tail feathers that come out at the sides, some type of red humpy feather collection on her back near her butt, but she never grew an actual tail like the two other ISA Browns and the golden comet I have did. No one has pulled out her feathers, and I've never seen any injury. I bought her as a 3 wk old chick from Hoover's via Rural King (feed store). The tail feathers just haven't grown, and now that everyone else has a tail (they're all 10-13 wks) she looks kind of weird. Will her tail ever grow in? Maybe after a molt? Is there any hope or is this just how she is? Her comb is starting to pink up in preparation for laying, and all other things seem normal with her. She's one of my softest hens, and it throws me a bit when there's no tail for me to pet.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most grow in the tail feathers between 3-4 months of age.

 

[FunClucks]

Most grow in the tail feathers between 3-4 months of age.

I haven't heard that before. I have 8 other chickens her same age and they all have tail feathers (ISA Brown, golden comet, SGE, PBE, green queen, orpingtons), so it really confused me. Do you think she has to molt first, or could she just grow them in?

 

[Justso]

I think I remember reading somewhere on the site about this happening spontaneously on rare occasions. It is not genetic, but a congenital occurrence.

 

[FunClucks]

I think I remember reading somewhere on the site about this happening spontaneously on rare occasions. It is not genetic, but a congenital occurrence.

Glad to hear it's not genetic, in case I end up hatching chicks at some point. It would have to happen to my softest chicken.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I haven't heard that before. I have 8 other chickens her same age and they all have tail feathers (ISA Brown, golden comet, SGE, PBE, green queen, orpingtons), so it really confused me. Do you think she has to molt first, or could she just grow them in?

Some are slower to start growing the tail feathers in. They are not molted out like other feathers as chicks grow, so generally they don't put the energy into to growing these feathers out until they are a bit bigger. Young ones often grow in the supporting tail feathers sooner, but the adult tail feathers take longer.

 

[FunClucks]

Some are slower to start growing the tail feathers in. They are not molted out like other feathers as chicks grow, so generally they don't put the energy into to growing these feathers out until they are a bit bigger. Young ones often grow in the supporting tail feathers sooner, but the adult tail feathers take longer.

Thanks for the clarification. I'll hope that's what's going on with Ativan.