REALLY stupid silkie question

[cottontail farm]

Ok, I've kept chickens for years and raised silkies before but the three that I have me stumped. I bought a ton of chicks from TSC this spring. Two of the silkies are the same size as similar aged standard chickens. One that I bought a week later is the same size as it's bantam mates.
Same food, same environment .
I always thought silkies were bantam only and the looking about seems to support this.
Is there that much difference in hatchery birds?
What's going on? I can get photos tomorrow morning if needed. Just picture 3 silkies with one half the size of the other two.

 

[happyhens1972]

You can get large fowl Silkies, as well as bantam, but they are not as big as your average large fowl chook.

 

[BarredRockMommy]

I'd love to see pictures. Just because bantams are so flippin cute, I cant imagine full size ones! Double the cuteness!

 

[cottontail farm]

You can get large fowl Silkies, as well as bantam, but they are not as big as your average large fowl chook.

Even my poultry book lists them as being one size here in the US... so confusing! I see you're from the UK... maybe you have standards and bantams there? The UK absolutely has the upper hand with poultry seeing as you can get the much coveted Vorwerks (Those things are gorgeous.)

 

[happyhens1972]

Oh! Well, I've definitely seen both sizes. Never kept them, they're cute but a bit too un-chicken for me. Lol! Now the Vorwerks, yes.....been trying to get some myself but whilst there are a fair few about, they go like hot cakes!!

 

[SonRise Silkies]

I'd really like to see the pictures. Some Silkies are just naturally smaller. Hatchery chicks are not very uniform. If the quality is good the size shouldn't matter, though technically they should be bantam.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I have 6 silkie chicks, and one porcelain bantam from TSC. My silkies are different sizes and shapes with my bantam being the tiniest.