Heritage RIR 11-Week Old Pullets Too Small?

[Margie May]

My heritage RIR pullets (11weeks in this picture) seem quite small and underdeveloped, but healthy with good energy levels. They’re part of an urban backyard flock and have been raised on standard start & grow feed, and clearly they’re free range as the picture shows maybe too much so
My feed store ordered them from Privett. I didn’t have a preference for heritage per se, I just wanted RIR, and they were the only feed store that would let me reserve a small order so that I wouldn’t exceed city ordinances. I had three hens of other breeds and ordered 3 chicks. I’ve had them since they were a couple of days old and they’ve been great. Started free ranging them at about 5 to 6 weeks. They seem so small and I can’t imagine them being ready to lay eggs in 8’ish weeks.
Is there anything I should be doing to help them get bigger?

 

[HappyClucker7]

They don't look especially small to me. They'll grow a lot before they start laying eggs.

 

[Margie May]

They don't look especially small to me. They'll grow a lot before they start laying eggs.

Thank you for the feedback. I’ll try and relax about it.

 

[Rooster G]

I went through the same thing for years, and was never content. Finally, I ordered some from Dick Horstman, and they are proving to be what I wanted. They are dark and large. I will take some pics later.

 

[Checota]

I grew up with RIR but now have buckeyes similar to your RIR as free range chickens they will be lean and sinewy. in the next 5 or six weeks watch then start getting muscle and that breast area will also start to grow. looks like your girls are beginning to molt which also .makes them look thinner then what they usually look like. RIR have tighter feathers so they will not look as big as some of your looser feathered breeds.

Most RIR I have owned started laying at 22 to 24 weeks old.

 

[Rooster G]

These hatched May 11th. We ordered them from Dick Horstman.

 

[Checota]

Here are two of my 11 week old Buckeye pullets currently in molt, they are the same size as RIR with similar history your girls look fine in size to me

 

[Rooster G]

just in case someone is truly interested:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-heritage-rhode-island-red-site.407294/

 

[Checota]

just in case someone is truly interested:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-heritage-rhode-island-red-site.407294/

Thanks for sharing very interesting read even gained new insight myself. Thanks