Extremely small 10 week old chick

[ben0125]

Just today I came home with a 10 week old Araucana chick. He/she isn't from a breeder and is probably not pure breed. He/She is extremely small and even my 6 weeks old tower over he/she. Here are the photos:




Would anyone know what may cause this? Will she/he always be tiny? & If possibly if it is a boy or a girl.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Was it represented as large fowl or bantam?

 

[ben0125]

Was it represented as large fowl or bantam?

All it said was "Black Araucana"

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Try to get a couple more unblurry pics. I know, that's like asking weeds not to grow!

Side, top, top of head and back.

 

[Ezzythehen]

Just today I came home with a 10 week old Araucana chick. He/she isn't from a breeder and is probably not pure breed. He/She is extremely small and even my 6 weeks old tower over he/she. Here are the photos:

View attachment 1273323 View attachment 1273326 View attachment 1273327 View attachment 1273328


Would anyone know what may cause this? Will she/he always be tiny? & If possibly if it is a boy or a girl.

I am not a veterinarian but I do believe you have a bantam rooster. It's the waddles which make me suspect the gender. It's the size and the little pomp on his head that makes me say bantam. So cute though! Enjoy

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

While the standard's for araucanas are different for your location than in the US, the feathered shanks of this bird are not in line with either standard, which would indicate mixed breeding and may also explain the size disparity depending on the breeding

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I am not a veterinarian but I do believe you have a bantam rooster. It's the waddles which make me suspect the gender. It's the size and the little pomp on his head that makes me say bantam. So cute though! Enjoy

The crest is because the breed standard for araucana in this posters location is crested and tailed as opposed to the rumpless and tufted uUSstandard

 

[JaeG]

NZ Araucana are a light breed but they shouldn't have feathered legs. The only thing I can think of that it could be crossed with to make it little, the shape it is and have feathered legs would be a Booted bantam or D'uccle bantam (which are no where near the stunning birds you guys have overseas). A Pekin bantam would've surely made it a lot plumper.

 

[ben0125]

So will the chick grow up to always be small?

 

[ben0125]

@BantyChooks would you be of any more help?