I have the same problem with my pearl hen! They told me her tail was gone b/c another bird was picking on her. But she likes to back up against the cage when she's scared. She finally grew them back - twice now! - but still does that and breaks them off again. I don't know why she does that. Every time she's scared or I first go to her cage to open the door and talk to her, she huddles in the corner. Then I open the door and talk to her and she comes out on her own! Birds...gotta love 'em! Sometimes I wonder if she'll ever have and keep her tail though!