Sudden overnight crooked tail

[DotDog]

HELP! I went out this morning with my 2 Bielefelders (12 weeks old) morning watermelon, and instead of jumping my lap, they acted frightened and looked anxiously toward the tunnel which goes out to a covered run, they are in a building. They are eating medicated chick crumbles, and a bit of watermelon, red grapes, tomatoes, apple (no seeds) but not all at once just a very small treat a day)



I then noticed that ones tail is crooked, see photos. I picked her up and tail moves fine, but returns to crooked, no crunchy feeling, no pain, no bleeding or feathers out or obvious injury. Both inside and outside seemed secure without a break in. What happened? what is this? can anyone enlighten me? what so I do?

 

[Bridebeliever]

Sorry you haven't gotten a response to this yet! It sounds like a case of wry tail. This thread should be helpful for you to read:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/184353/wry-tail-anyone-have-any-pics

 

[DotDog]

Yes, I believe this is a case of "Wry Tail", very unfortunate but she is a dear thing and I hope she will lead a good quality life. I wonder if the gene pool for Bielefelder Chickens is still too small and this may have contributed to it. The people I bought her and her sister from know nothing about this condition, they were willing to take her back, and refund my money or give me another chicken but I fear for her life as culling is recommended and not breeding. I never intended to breed her as I have no rooster nor will get one. So I am hoping she has a good quality of life and this does not effect her spine. Actually this evening it seems worse with the tail over further still. I can only hope the tail stops and stabilizes. Here are some photos from this evening. Does anyone know if I
should change her diet or anything that can keep the tail from going further?

 

[Bridebeliever]

It is definitely a genetic condition so it's good you told the people you got her from. If you return her to them she likely would be culled. I have seen them live productive lives not the least bit bothered by their tail and lay as many eggs as the rest of the flock. If you aren't breeding she should be happy to live out her life with you! So since this is genetic nothing is needed to be changed with feed. And on the plus side some people see their birds tail get even more crooked and then straighten back out a bit! (Though never completely straight.) They still have some growing to do so she may get a little better rather than worse!

 

[DotDog]

I hope so, thanks for the encouragement!

 

[Gloryfarm]

Did your chick develops it at 12 weeks? I have a 11 week old cockerel that all of a sudden started doing this exact thing today!

 

[SarahBish]

Can chickens develop wry tail later in life? Our 1.5 year old hen is having similar issues

 

[Masonjars]

I have a RIR whose tail suddenly started looking crooked around 6 months old…doesn’t seem to bother her at all though.