Why hasn't my pullet got a tail?

[Sussex19]

So I've got two BO pullets, ones got a normal tail, but the other one hasn't.
She has got a few tail feathers, but they point down rather then up.
Will she stay like this? Or will it change after the moult?
Odd tail on the left and normal tail on the right.

 

[springvalley123]

maybe they're in the middle of one of their juvenile moults?

 

[Backyardhomestead921]

So I've got two BO pullets, ones got a normal tail, but the other one hasn't.
She has got a few tail feathers, but they point down rather then up.
Will she stay like this? Or will it change after the moult?
Odd tail on the left and normal tail on the right.

So if they are going through moult right now , it is most likely the reason. Has she been like this her whole life?

 

[Sussex19]

maybe they're in the middle of one of their juvenile

So if they are going through moult right now , it is most likely the reason. Has she been like this her whole life?

She's not moulting that I'm aware of, and she's been like this ever since she got her first feathers.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

She has got a few tail feathers, but they point down rather then up.
Will she stay like this? Or will it change after the moult?

Possibly known as wry tail, but pointing down instead of to the side and would be considered permanent, if so.

It's possible a couple of her feathers were plucked or broken from general flock antics and they may not come in until she does molt.. but there's no way to know for sure aside from wait and see.

It's (wry tail) considered a *possible* indicator of not great laying ability. Not good for breeding but perhaps fine for backyard production/pet purposes.

There are rumpless breeds.. like Araucana.. which can look similar though I highly doubt she somehow got that gene that causes it but maybe worth mentioning.

https://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Rump/BRKRumpless.html

https://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Rumplessness.html

I have had at least one or two (out of a hundred+) that always held their tail down.. one was a cockerel that had trouble hatching and never grew the same as the others before harvest.. presumably a genetic deficiency.

As long as her behavior is normal (eating, drinking, foraging WITH mates), and when inspected her skin is light pink not angry red then I would not worry about it.

Hopefully you can update as she progresses!

 

[Tonyroo]

@ColtHandorf , your thoughts on this?

 

[Sussex19]

Thanks!
Every thing else seems normal, and I don't think it's that other hens have been messing with it, as it's the whole tail that seems to be pointing down, so wry tail does sound about right.
I can certainly keep you updated.

 

[ColtHandorf]

@ColtHandorf , your thoughts on this?

I had something similar with a Salmon Faverolle hen when I was younger.

The hen upfront appeared to be rumpless like that. She threw offspring with normal tails. I'm not 100% sure if she was rumpless or if it was an odd angle for a wry tail.

 

[Sussex19]

I had something similar with a Salmon Faverolle hen when I was younger.

The hen upfront appeared to be rumpless like that. She threw offspring with normal tails. I'm not 100% sure if she was rumpless or if it was an odd angle for a wry tail.

Did she have any of the bigger feathers that one find in tails?

 

[ColtHandorf]

Did she have any of the bigger feathers that one find in tails?

No, I don't think so. But that's really been like 20 years ago.