Runt, gold laced polish, when should I be concerned?

[Shadowsfate]

I have a 5 week old gold laced polish. It's always been a runt. Slower growing than the other four chicks and slower feathering... honestly a little slower in the brain as well but not to a disabilitating extent. As its tail is growing in it looks like unbarbed feathers like silkie feathers? So whats up, is it just a runt? Is there anything else I should be watching for? Its a very sweet chick and I want to make sure it does ok!




Hard to see, but the fluffy tail.




size comparisson with other hatch mates


close up on the other hatchmates feathering. As you can see they have neck feather and are mostly filled in while my GL polish still has a lot of fluffy places.

Please let me know what you all think!

 

[Chickensfan]

I don't think you should be worried. A chick that is littler than the rest is natural, and you can't avoid it. Trust me, there is nothing wrong with that chick. The littlest is always the alertest! I had a tiny rooster who got pecked on all the time but is now the biggest in the coop.
(but by the way, it kinda looks like it's going to be a boy...)

 

[Shadowsfate]

I don't think you should be worried. A chick that is littler than the rest is natural, and you can't avoid it. Trust me, there is nothing wrong with that chick. The littlest is always the alertest! I had a tiny rooster who got pecked on all the time but is now the biggest in the coop.
(but by the way, it kinda looks like it's going to be a boy...)

Well it seems ok for now. Why do you say its looking like a boy? Its supposed to be a sexed pullet :/

 

[Chickensfan]

that doesn't always mean they are sexed correctly, but most of the time they are. Polish is my favorite breed of chicken and I have 2 polish roos as well as my darling polish hen-Hattie. I am almost 99% sure that the boys always have sprouts/mohawks like that, because both of mine do. Meanwhile, I am also pretty sure the girls have afros.