Wry tail question

[KentuckyRooster]

I picked up a couple of very cute 4 month old black tailed buff japanese bantams. They have somewhat of wry tails. Will this correct on its own?

I got them for breeding and they were so hyped when I first saw them they were holding them pretty straight. If they don't correct or it's too much of a problem as far as breeding they can just wander around and be cute, but I was excited about them.

 

[sourland]

In my experience, wry tail has been a highly heritable trait. If they were mine, I would use them as 'yard candy' and try to get some better birds for breeding.

 

[TattooedChicks]

I've got a btw jap that started to show a bit of a wry tail at 3 months old after an explosion of plummage growth. Especially while at rest, he'd just let it kind of hang loose. At 4 months old it is starting to correct but only time will tell if it straightens out. If not, I have two other males waiting as understudies just incase the flashiest male doesn't make the grade.

My how a month makes a difference

 

[YdogsflY]

I am not familiar with Jap Bantams, but in my experience with other breeds, Wry Tail does not go away. Any bird with wry tail should be culled from a breeding program.

I have heard some discussion stating wry tail can sometimes be an incubation issue. Sometimes that could correct itself, but never fully. Still a good idea not to breed those birds since it's hard to tell whether it's genetic or incubation unless you've been breeding a line for many years.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

I appreciate the advice and I won't breed them unless their tails correct. They are having some feather explosion growth right now so it is a small possibility they are just having trouble with the weight but...probably not.

I'll find a more appropriate cock to use.

 

[gjensen]

It is highly heritable, and it does not correct itself.

 

[TattooedChicks]

I appreciate the advice and I won't breed them unless their tails correct. They are having some feather explosion growth right now so it is a small possibility they are just having trouble with the weight but...probably not.

I'll find a more appropriate cock to use.

How’d your bird turn out? Any improvements after a month or is he still crooked. Mine has settled nicely now that he’s replaced most of his tail feathers with fuller, thicker ones at 5 months old. I only notice a slight deviation to the left once in awhile, not more than a few degrees.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

It did get better.

 

[Gray Farms]

Wry tails do not fix themselves. And can be passed on. I highly recommend not using birds with wry tails for breeders.