maturation rates

[mickeymushroom]

i notice that my 5 day old Rhodies have feathered out but the new hampshire reds and Light Brahmas are slower to develop wing feathers... is it because larger breeds develop slower?

 

[Island Chick]

My hatchery RIR pullets feathered so fast, by 7 weeks my golden sex links had caught up as did my buff orpingtons. Just got 2 blue orps and 4 lav orps from a breeder, they are 5-6 weeks old and finally getting body feathers! One is an obvious roo, but even my RIR "pullet" Rudy was feathered by now as well. Shocks me how much faster the hatchery stock grew. At this rate, they will never be big enough to integrate easily. I figured a 4-6 week difference wouldn't be too bad since but not so sure now.

But yea, I think it's a pedigree thing. Some lines feather out faster. Also noticed that the quicker I dip the temp in the brooder, or take light away at night sooner, the faster they feather. The ones always under the lights always feathered slowly compared to the ones who slept further away.