Is there such a thing as a stunted hen?

[EggFeathers]

We have eight hens. All are within several days if each other in age. Three are Amber Links. All of our girls appear to be laying except one Amber Link. She’s the largest in body size but her comb and wattles are still very small; almost no growth there at all. Being that large and colorful combs and wattles are an indication of maturity, what should I make of this sweet girl whose comb and wattles are so tiny? She sometimes stays to herself in the flock, but other times joins in flock activities. Will she ever mature?

 

[Alexandra Runner]

I wouldn't worry about it! Sometimes different genes cause different maturity times, I've found.

 

[PhantomSlayer]

It's completely possible! We have a similar case except our late bloomer is much smaller than those other Australorps of her age.

These are 18 weeks old. As you can tell the runt had almost no comb or wattles compared to one of the other 18 week old australorps.

And now 24 weeks she has a small comb and wattles. Though one wattle is actually longer than the other lol

 

[rosemarythyme]

Even birds all the same breed and ages are still individuals, and will mature at the rate that their own genetics dictate.