Developmental Differences in same aged hens

[SMRules]

Hello everyone. I'm am Sonja from Southern CA.

I am a first-time chicken owner and love learning everything that your group has to offer.
I checked your forums and cannot find an answer to my question, so hoping I can get an answer here.

I have 5 hens that are 6-7 months old. 3 Black Australorps and 2 Buff Orpingtons. 4 out of my hens are now in full egg-laying mode.
One of my Black girls, however, is way behind schedule in development and laying. She is super healthy, happy and sweet. She has always been extremely shy and laid back, lowest in the pecking order.
My questions is, can being lowest in the pecking order cause slower developement? Or, is it possible she is developmentally challenged?

Please see the 1ST 2 photos below of Mimi, the late bloomer, compared to another of my Australorp hens.

I appreciate any feedback. Thanks in advance.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They all just mature at their own rate. Things like light, time of year, feed consumption, and genetics play into it. Being on the bottom of the pecking order sometimes means they are also smaller overall, and not always eating as much.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

being lowest in the pecking order cause slower developement?

Could also be the other way round. Being slower to develop could put her lower in the pecking order. Remember, these are living organisms we're talking about. They are individuals. If you look at a bunch of fifth-graders, they are going to be all shapes and sizes, not all uniform. Same is true in chickens even if they are all the same breed. They do not all have the same parents, hence as @oldhenlikesdogs pointed out, different genetics are in play. She will develop at her own pace and may surprise you. Some slow-growing birds end up being the biggest in the flock later.