Question on body characteristics...... something I read has me worried

[Guitartists]

I wasn't sure where to put this... but since it was the pics in the Standard of Perfection that got me wondering... I figured here was as good a place as any.


They show a pic of a bird indicative of vigor and productiveness and one showing a lack of vigor and productiveness.

Do these pics apply to pullets and cockerels or more so to hens and roosters?

The reason I ask is because I am concerned that my birds more resemble the latter. They're healthy, they've been wormed, they're happy and active and a few of my older hens have begun to lay and lay nice eggs regularly. But, they do tend to be shaped more like the latter and not as 'filled out' as the afore mentioned body type. Is this just because they are young yet? I know you don't show a bird until it's mature....so maybe they change a lot after a year of age?

Please...somebody help put my mind at ease! I'm so stressed out....even though I know the birds seem good...maybe I am overlooking something????

Here's one of my older pullets.....

And one of my Bantam cockerels

Am I being overly worrisome?

 

[CovenantCreek]

I don't know anything about body type and how it affects vigor and productiveness, but the pics are of Leghorns and may not be equally applicable to all breeds in the exact same way. Leghorns, particularly the whites, are bred to be non-stop egg producers which most chickens aren't.

 

[Catalina]

Sorry I don't know anything about standards of perfection - BUT -I had to tell you - Your Sebright is so beautiful! I love that pic!

 

[Guitartists]

Thanks.... he's one of my fav little guys

as to the Leghorn thing.... it was in regards to ALL breeds, but that was apparently just the breed they chose to use as an example.

I'm just not sure if all young birds are 'gangly' in a sense and they grow out of it once they reach full maturity...... OR if the shape of my birds means that I am overlooking something.

 

[mikarod]

Exhibition Leghorns have a "sweep". Their tails should "sweep" up to the middle of their necks rather than "jet" up like the second photo (when you look past the internal organs...hahha)

Production leghorns are made to produce eggs. Exhibition Leghorns produce abundant eggs, but also conform to the Standard of Perfection. Without the "Leghorn Sweep" it's not considered a Leghorn.

 

[Guitartists]

But are MY birds plump enough

Are they as filled out as they should be? Or is this just a stage they go through before they reach full maturity? None are a year old yet. Do they fill out properly only after a year????

Their silhouettes just seem off now that I've seen these images...... am I overly worried for no reason????? They seem fine otherwise.

 

[mikarod]

HAHAHA! I get it now!

You have no reason to worry. Production birds RARELY match the given guidelines, and using a Leghorn picture as a reference to all birds is not a good idea. Being that yours are in the adolescent phase of life, give them some time.

 

[Mahonri]

I'd say your EE looks like she is filled out well. Looks just like mine but mine don't only lay about every three days... so maybe mine don't have vigor either.

 

[Guitartists]

Whew! Thank you!

I've been feeling up my poor birds trying to gage whether or not they are filling out enough

.... much to their dismay as I usually don't do more than occasionally pick them up.

I kinda figured it was like apples and oranges...... but that silhouette just kept bugging me.

Also, they were wormed somewhat recently....so they might plump up a bit more.

 

[gritsar]

Guitartists, sounds like you've done everything right and I wouldn't worry about what some book says. Chickens don't read books.
If they are eating well and not showing any signs of illness, they're probably fine and just haven't filled out yet.
Not every breed is going to lay an egg every single day. Some breeds only lay a few times a week or every other day and that's what is normal for them.
If you had a bird that was getting larger and then suddenly started losing weight, that's when I'd worry.