growth difference?

[bluefeather2697]

i have chicks hatched 1 week ago and i noticed that 4 of them already have full wing feathers that overlaps their vent area and already has half centimeter tail feathers and the remaining 3 of them still looks like day old with slow wing development and no tail. although some chicks came first in hatching, the overall duration of their hatching from first to last is about 6 hours. im really confused.

can this give me a clue of what gender they are? by the way, they are leghorn cross. (leghorn roo and australorp hen)

here is their pic when they are all DAY-OLD.

 

[juliechick]

In some breeds, the pullets do feather in faster. I can't guarantee it, but I would guess you have 4 pullets and 3 roosters.

 

[smarsh]

being crosses, this could also be just genetics. leghorns feather much faster than most loose feathered breeds (standard large breeds usually fall under this). Leghorns have a tighter feather plumage, not as fluffy, like games.

some may just be taking after one parent more than the other. They may also end up with different body shapes and weights too. It is also fun to see what you get in crosses.