Small "Large Fowl"

[AthamGI]

I have several large fowl hens, including Rhode Island Reds, Silver Laced Wyndottes, and Barred Rocks. I've always thought of them as large chickens, but upon looking at websites with pictures of the same birds, as well as visiting friends with chicken flocks, I've noticed that, in comparison, mine are much smaller. The same thing goes with my bantis; I have a lot of silkies, but they never grow as big as they're supposed to get. My blue silkie still looks like a pullet, even though she's a year old.

I don't know if this has to do with the strains of chickens that I have, if it's an environmental factor, or if they are not getting the proper nutirents and vitimins. Any ideas?

 

[Mahonri]

Probably not getting the proper nutrients and protien.

I have a blue ameraucana hen that will be a year old in September that has yet to lay an egg and is MUCH smaller than the even the 20 week olds.

Some run smaller.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I've been told that birds that hatch in the fall and winter tend to be smaller than those that hatch in the spring. Some lines tend to run larger or smaller than average, and/or to mature more/less rapidly. Also, hatchery birds are bred for production, not to meet the standard, so exhibition lines tend to run considerably larger for the breeds you mention

My birds tend to mature slowly, and if I don't start hatching until March, as is commonly recommended, they will not be mature enough for fall shows.

In general, my silkies tend to be smaller than birds that also come from or are the same lines. I know it is hotter here, and my birds are, for the most part, outside as compared with being in a large indoor coop (garage-like building). It gets much colder there, but those birds are inside while mine are not. They get much more fruits and vegetables than mine, although mine do get them. I am pickier about the quality of the feed I purchase. Which of all these variables causes size differences? Who knows?