slow wing development?

[Moselle]

In my order of 7 chicks, I got 2 RIR. One of them is not developing her wing feathers as quickly as all the others, including the other RIR. They are all a week old and have nice long wing feathers coming in; the one RIR has just shortish wing feathers so far. She is about the same size as the other RIR, and is acting fine and healthy otherwise. Do some chicks develop more slowly?

 

[sunnysidecluckers]

One of my leghorns is like that. It is the biggest of the three. It seems the smaller one is farther ahead in the feather department.

 

[Gallus_domesticus]

I'm having a similar problem with one of my EE's. She was born about a week before the other two (I think) but after a few weeks now she is only half their size. She started out just a bit smaller but, the older ones had more feathers. Now she seems to be developing as the others did, just much more slowly. Is it common to have a runty chick who develops more slowly than normal? Any feedback/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Katy]

Pullets often get their wing feathers faster than the little roos so maybe she's really a he.

 

[Moselle]

:/Please don't tell me that! We don't want to say good-bye to Mary (or Marvin

)!

 

[sunnysidecluckers]

Yikes, Yes please don't say that!! Or my Emma will be an Emmet!!

,

 

[hinkjc]

If it's from a hatchery, I'd say you have a little roo too, as most hatcheries feather sex RIR.

Jody

 

[Moselle]

Well, phooey. I guess I'd better start preparing my kids for her/his likey departure. And finding a new home...ugh.