same age, different development rate

[Shawneegyrl]

I got 3 BO chicks 10 days ago and they were identical in size. One was just a shade darker in color, otherwise I could not tell the three apart.

Now 2 of the chicks are much larger and have quite a lot of feathers on the wings and some tail fluff. The third is much smaller and just barely has feathers starting in wings.

All of them eat and drink and run around very happily. Would the difference in growth rate indicate male/female or could the one have a problem I cannot detect? They were straight run chicks.

Any thoughts?

 

[gcbsmommy]

Hope someone with experience weighs in! We have 16 BOs that are 5 weeks old now. All of them grew at very similar rates - they are all supposed to be girls, though.

 

[lazy gardener]

Hope someone with experience weighs in! We have 16 BOs that are 5 weeks old now. All of them grew at very similar rates - they are all supposed to be girls, though.

I have no experience, but google "feather sexing" and see if BO's are on the list that can be feather sexed. If so, females feather out faster than males, but my understanding is that the sexing is only reliable for the first few days. My uneducated guess is that the slower developing one is a roo.