Should i change hatchery?Size of breeds considerably smaller.

[Mamagirl3]

My pullets are 11 mos old (born 3-27-22). I dont know if the genetics of the breeders are smaller than average or if we have done something wrong. Before ordering from same place again i need advice from you seasoned chix masters! Other than one that arrived injured and died a few hours late have been healthy. Breeds follows. ->
BUFF ORPINGTON- had these years ago and were considerbly larger than these. Chart shows 6-7 lbs. The largest of my buffs weighs 5 lbs. The other 3 are all in the lower 4+ lb ranges.
LIGHT BRAHMAS- charts show 8-9.5 lbs. The largest one we have is 6.7 lbs. The other 3 are all in the 5+ lbs range.
BLACK JERSEY GIANTS- chart shows 10-11 lb range. They are all 3 (had 4 people down the road let there dog out and he gound us) these girls are all in the higher end of 5+ lbs.
One rooster a light brahma is 12lbs.
Food: purina chick starter until 18 weeks. Then a feeder of purina all flock 20% protein and another feeder of Layena pellets. They have containers of oyster shell and grit. They are out to free range 4-5 days a week depending on weather. During summer they got scratch as a treat on days they werent out to free range. In fall i read that some corn during cold winter months was good for them to put on a little weight to keep warm. In early october we raked up oak leaves and began putting a layer of leaves down every 2 to 3 days on one side of the covered pen. Each morning we gave them some cracked corn, tossed it in the leaves to give them some ""busy work"" to do to entertain them on days the winds were 25-30mph with 40-50 mph gusts. Which is normal here in the ozarks of missouri all spring and fall... and a great deal of winter too. In summer when its hot..cant find a breeze! They are still getting corn now and plan to continue until weather changes in late march. Even tho we have had several below zero with high winds we still have a couple days every couple days or so in 40s and occasional 50s and low 60s. But even then the night temps are 20s. That is why we have continued corn. We had a few brutal spells where highs were in the teens and low 20s. For those times they are in one side of the pen that has heavy clear plastic on all sides with the last 2 feet of 8 feet tall fence left open on 3 sides. The 4th side has 4 ft to 8ft to roof open. They have access to the coop at all times if they want to go in. During the severe temps i have given them a suet i made myself. They love it! We ration it as well or i believe thdy would eat too much!
In this suet i have some pellets, oatmeal, raisins, dried grasshoppers and dried mealworms, small amounts of cheerios and rice crispies, scratch grains and cracked corn. Mix it in a bucket with peanut butter. I heat the peanut butter to get everything coated. Then as i take out a clump i roll it in red pepper flakes. Then press it into sour cream and cottage cheese small containers. Put in freezer for little bit to chill peanut butter. Then on bad days i take out 1 container, put it inside a net vegetable feeder and hang in pen. They seem to love it and over the course of a day 12 chix can eat it all.
Now... i am sure i am making some feeding mistakes but is it the reason my girls are low weight? They seem healthy.. have 11 hens and always get 8 to 11 eggs everyday depending on weather. So to do that wouldnt they have to be healthy?
Thanks for all input. Have a great day.

 

[Folly's place]

Many hatchery birds are smaller than their breed standard, and there are reasons.
Hatcheries are motivated to have hens who are good egg producers, and most likely select breeders for that trait. High egg production tends to run with smaller body size, so that's a factor. Also, in any group of a specific breed, there will be birds very large, the right size, and very small, compared to that breed standard. Show people care, hatcheries, not so much. The most popular breed/ color varieties seem most affected by this, in my experience.
The barred Plymouth Rocks we got from MMcM years ago were on the small size, and the Jersey Giants varied by 30% at least in mature weights. The buff Plymouth Rocks we had from MMcM a couple of years later were right within their breed standard, wonderful. A much less popular variety, and I thought that might be why. Maybe.
We've been happy with our Cackle birds, although again we tend to not order the most popular types.
Mary

 

[LizzzyJo]

Second above. Hatchery quality birds are not like breeder birds. They cut corners everywhere from feather pattern to size. Sorry!

 

[tlcmurphy]

I’ve got 2 hatchery BO hens (McMurray I believe) and they weigh 6.5 and nearly 8 lbs, yours do sound small. My Welsummer is only 5 lbs though, so I guess they do run smaller.
BTW I would eat your suet, sounds tasty!

 

[Folly's place]

Unless you are interested in showing your birds, it doesn't matter. For dual purpose birds, if you plan to eat some of them (cockerels, mostly) it might matter. For a small group of hens as pets and for eggs, hatchery birds may do much better than show bird lines selected for looks, not production.
Mary

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Protein percentage when starting chicks will have some to do with it. High protein gives them full potential. I use 20% protein and have seen some folks use over 25%.

That said, hatchery genetic potential for size is just not the same as a standard bred bird. If your goal is to have larger birds then you would be better off finding local breeders. Not people who order hatchery birds then resale or people who are mating hatchery birds. Actual bred to standard stock. You will be elated by size of birds and temperament. I've never had ill behaved standard bred birds. Night and day different birds from hatchery quality.

 

[Folly's place]

@Egghead_Jr , how have your breeder birds done in egg production? Our experiences with two different 'show breeders' birds, two different breeds, was abysmal. One set of beautiful birds barely produced any eggs at all, and the other set mostly died from having pendulous crops. All beautiful, up to standard birds, and really sad both times.
You must be doing better!
Mary

 

[Amer]

Hatchery large fowl birds will never grow as large as Standard bred birds.
If you want some big beautiful birds, get in touch with a breeder.
I wouldn’t recommend feeding much corn or suet to help them put on weight for winter. Layer feed provides all the calories they need. Those treats can cause birds to become overweight. But as an occasional treat, they’re okay.

 

[Folly's place]

We feed 20% Flock Raiser to everyone, never a layer feed. I don't think that layer feeds at 16% protein are a good choice, and adding corn and suet makes birds fat, unless in tiny quantities.
Not so related to adult sizes, unless their diet was deficient as they were growing.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

In general I do have a problem with changing to a 16% layer feed when the birds are 16 weeks or a bit older, before they reach adult sizes. Not a good choice if actual maturity and longevity matters. Commercial 'egg factories' don't care, their birds are all gone before two years of age anyway.
mary