OEGB...what size is normal? Can there be runts?

[EllieandOlive]

We have a single (living with silkies the same age) oegb pullet who is TINY, got her in the mixed bantam bin from TSC. It's like she hasn't grown in months. She is about 4+months old and the size of a 3 or 4 week old standard chicken. I have a couple adult bantams, a male oegb and a sebright hen, and they are like 4x her size, though tiny themselves. I feel like any eggs she could lay would be marble sized, LOL.

Just wondering if she is runty, or is it normal to have such a tiny bird and I just am not familiar enough with this breed?

I recently switched them to grower-layer feed as they are coming up on 5 months of age and they were out of chick feed when I went last. Does she need chick food longer because she is so small?

 

[EllieandOlive]

I noticed her weird toes but after inspecting her it seems it just was bent under for the picture. She walks normally.

 

[EllieandOlive]

Bump

 

[SilverLacedFarmChik]

I’m going to tag a few people who might be able to answer your question, because I can’t, lol
@Overo Mare @casportpony @Rhodebar Lover

 

[casportpony]

How much does she weigh?

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

OEGB are definitely a small breed. I have never raised them but the ones I have seen at fairs are always quite small and I've heard commentary on the forums about how tiny they are as chicks. That's about all I can contribute since they're not a breed I am incredibly familiar with, beyond broad physical traits/sexing. Her breed does look to be correct, Spangled OEGB. The standard weight for an OEGB is 22 oz for a hen and a Sebright 20 oz. It seems very odd to me that she would be significantly smaller than a Sebright since her breed should be slightly larger

 

[EllieandOlive]

How much does she weigh?

She is 9.7 ounces. Just took my kitchen scale out to the barn. she is over 5 months old.

 

[EllieandOlive]

She is 9.7 ounces. Just took my kitchen scale out to the barn. she is over 5 months old.

@casportpony it seems very runty for 5 months!

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Sounds like a special bird to me. She wouldn’t be a show bird but if she’s well proportioned and healthy she might make for a neat line of teacup bantams.

One of my American game bantams is 15oz and she’s practically grown. That puts her around the size of a Dutch bantam and smaller than a OEGB and well below the breed standard for a AGB. I can’t use her in my show line but I see no reason not to pair her to the smallest rooster I can and shoot for a mini game bantam.

 

[Ladybird CA]

size A seramas have heart problems and some don’t make it past their first year but I don’t know if she would be smaller than one or not