Need advice on my Buff Orpingtons- Bubbles and Betsy

[TXChickenCouple]

My husband and I are new to having chicks and I need advice.

We purchased 2 Buff Orpingtons at TSC and they told us both were 1 week old on March 27th. But one of the Buff Orpingtons (we named her Bubbles) has just gotten so big she’s jigantor compared to her sister Betsy. She was bigger than Betsy when we bought them but Betsy is still so tiny compared to Bubbles.
Since you all know so much about chickens if TSC was right and they were in fact 1 week old on March 27 they turned 4 weeks yesterday.
Just 2 more Questions..
1. Are Buffs supposed to look like their feathers are thinning/sparse like Bubbles does right now?
2. How old do they all need to be to move into the big girl coop outside?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Bubbles looks to be a meat bird, likely a Cornish Cross.

 

[TXChickenCouple]

Bubbles looks to be a meat bird, likely a Cornish Cross.

How would I know for sure if she is a "meat bird" like a Cornish Hen? Are their life expediencies different?

 

[annageckos]

I'm guessing a CornishX cockerel looking at the amount of comb I see. They are very different and have a very short lifespan. You may want to go over to the meat bird section, there have been some people over there that have raised them as pets. But most don't live very long. You need to restrict feed. It is not uncommon for them to grow so fast they end up with leg issues or have a heart attack.
The smaller chick doesn't look like a buff orp from that picture. Is it white? More pics would help.

 

[TXChickenCouple]

I'm guessing a CornishX cockerel looking at the amount of comb I see. They are very different and have a very short lifespan. You may want to go over to the meat bird section, there have been some people over there that have raised them as pets. But most don't live very long. You need to restrict feed. It is not uncommon for them to grow so fast they end up with leg issues or have a heart attack.
The smaller chick doesn't look like a buff orp from that picture. Is it white? More pics would help.

I can send more pics of Betsy....ugh so frustrating....they were in the bin at TSC that was labeled Buff Orpington's.

 

[TXChickenCouple]

I can send more pics of Betsy....ugh so frustrating....they were in the bin at TSC that was labeled Buff Orpington's.

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

Sorry I just had to add something… I can’t help with your problem but I love your names! Bubbles and Betsy. Perfect

 

[TXChickenCouple]

I can send more pics of Betsy....ugh so frustrating....they were in the bin at TSC that was labeled Buff Orpington's.

 

[TXChickenCouple]

Sorry I just had to add something… I can’t help with your problem but I love your names! Bubbles and Betsy. Perfect

Thank you so much!!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How would I know for sure if she is a "meat bird" like a Cornish Hen? Are their life expediencies different?

Can you get a photo of Betsy standing up?

To me Bubbles is a meat bird/broiler - a Cornish Cross (CornishX).
Yes, the life expectancy is different since CornishX are usually processed (butchered) at anywhere from 4 to 10 weeks of age.

Some have been successful in keeping for a longer period of time - maybe even 18months to 2 years, but feed needs to be limited and they need exercise. My understanding is they can be sweet birds and if they live long enough, the pullets/hens do lay.
They can have heart problems and/or develop leg issues - the leg issues are generally due to rapid weight gain.

I'm sorry about that. Sometimes chicks get mixed up at feed stores, maybe an employee or even a customer puts a chick in the wrong bin. Chicks are also shipped together a lot of times and a list of breeds are on the box and it's up to someone to separate them out.

@HeiHeisMom may be able to give you some tips on raising a CornishX
She had lovely Reese, which she lost earlier this year, but she did very well, imho.