One chicken smaller than the rest, is this normal?

[oliviaandjosh4]

I have 4 Lavender Orpingtons, 3 pullets & 1 rooster. They were all born the same day and are 20 weeks old now. One pullet has been smaller than the rest since the others noticeably started getting bigger. She isn't extremely smaller but enough to where you can notice even from far away that she is smaller in size. Up close even her face is somewhat smaller like she isn't developing as fast as she should, along with her small comb as well. They were all kept together & fed the same, I see her eat all the time. What could have caused this? And when will she catch up with the others? Has anyone else experienced this? I am becoming concerned now as they could start laying eggs soon and I'm not so sure if she could lay an egg being her size. Pic below (she is the small one on left of course).


sorry i couldn't get one with her face up close

 

[mtngirl35]

Maybe she's just a runt. If she acts healthy I wouldn't worry. My runt is still the smallest hen but she lays just as many eggs as the rest and is the only one who has gone broody and hatched out chicks.

 

[LanceTN]

If a white Leghorn can lay the eggs they lay your chicken's size won't stop her from laying any eggs.

 

[Baldeaglemom]

Hi Olivaandjosh4, I'm curious if your smaller pullet continued to develop ok. I too have 1 pullet smaller than the others. They are about 16 weeks and just in the last 2 weeks the one seems to have stopped growing. She's eating and drinking. But does seem to be laying down a lot. Has dug herself a couple of little nest type holes in the yard and is always laying in them. I'm thinking of feeding her the afternoon treat separately to make sure she's getting enough. We have large feeders and waterers allowing them to eat whenever they want. Any advice?