Is this a bantam Ameraucana?

[flashlight]

I bought my first ever chicks seven weeks ago, and five of them are Ameraucanas. They are quickly turning into my favorites because they are so sweet-natured and curious. However, one of my Ameraucanas is significantly smaller than her four counterparts and much smaller than the other seven chicks, too. Holding her feels like holding a frail little bird that weighs practically nothing, whereas the other Ameraucanas feel big, full, and solid in comparison. I was worried there might be something wrong with her, but now I think she's a bantam (or a miniature?) and I just want to be sure. She eats and drinks well, is highly energetic, and has a lot of spirit. Despite her small size, she isn't timid at all around the other chicks. I pulled her and one of the other Ameraucanas out of their run today to get some comparison photos. (Pardon the mess. It's been raining so much lately and we're also in the process of building them a bigger coop and run.) Thanks for the help!

 

[SilverBirds]

Where did you get them? None of the birds I'm seeing are Ameraucanas. They are EEs.

She may have some sort of dwarfism. Was she smaller then the others as a chick?

 

[flashlight]

Where did you get them? None of the birds I'm seeing are Ameraucanas. They are EEs.

She may have some sort of dwarfism. Was she smaller then the others as a chick?

I got them from Tractor Supply. They were sold as Ameraucanas and all five have a similar appearance, except one is black and brown and the other two are a mix of gray and brown. Maybe they are EEs. They're friendly and sweet girls, whatever they are.

She didn't strike me as that much smaller as a chick. I didn't notice a big difference in size until a couple of weeks ago when the others really started shooting up and she stayed the same. She seems to be perfectly healthy and active in every way but her tiny size. Are there any problems associated with dwarfism in chickens? I know I'll need to be extra careful that she doesn't get bullied or meet a predator, but other than that, are they generally healthy?

 

[SilverBirds]

I got them from Tractor Supply. They were sold as Ameraucanas and all five have a similar appearance, except one is black and brown and the other two are a mix of gray and brown. Maybe they are EEs. They're friendly and sweet girls, whatever they are.

She didn't strike me as that much smaller as a chick. I didn't notice a big difference in size until a couple of weeks ago when the others really started shooting up and she stayed the same. She seems to be perfectly healthy and active in every way but her tiny size. Are there any problems associated with dwarfism in chickens? I know I'll need to be extra careful that she doesn't get bullied or meet a predator, but other than that, are they generally healthy?

If you got them from TSC, they are EEs. Hoover's (the hatchery TSC gets chicks from) does not sell true Ameraucanas.

Chickens with true dwarfism often have short, stumpy legs. She looks like her growth was stunted. It could have been a nutritional deficiency, genetics, or something else but I doubt she'll grow anymore. From what I've heard, dwarfs are generally healthy. I'd treat her the same way you'd treat a regular bantam.

 

[flashlight]

If you got them from TSC, they are EEs. Hoover's (the hatchery TSC gets chicks from) does not sell true Ameraucanas.

Chickens with true dwarfism often have short, stumpy legs. She looks like her growth was stunted. It could have been a nutritional deficiency, genetics, or something else but I doubt she'll grow anymore. From what I've heard, dwarfs are generally healthy. I'd treat her the same way you'd treat a regular bantam.

Thank you for the info on TSC. I had no idea and thought these were Ameraucanas all this time. Reading about the Easter Eggers tonight, they sound like my chicks. Of the twelve chicks I have currently, these five are by far the most friendly and I enjoy them.

And thanks for the tips on dwarfism. She is so petite that I do worry about her some and that she'll be bullied as they all get older. Here is another picture of her from earlier this afternoon. You can see her legs better in this one, if that helps any.