Two pullets, one with abnormal growth

[GimmeCake]

So I got two barred rocks, one that looks typical, one that has growth that a 5 week old Pellet should not have. What I'm worried about is that the one of them seems to have a slightly different body then the other barred rock, which looks like a typical barred rock chick. I got some images to help give you an idea.

I thought about it being a rooster but I actually asked a few days ago here and it doesn't seem like it. But the past day or so is when I started to notice abnormal Pullet growth. If this was a Cockerel then it should have grown a bigger and redder comb by now, so I ruled that out.

A few things to mention first is that this chicken is taller, and feels like the wing bones aren't so round, the curve is very pointy compared to the other chicken. But from what I've read online is that the chicken would only get bigger if it was a rooster but it's only 5 weeks old and this one feels a lot "fuller", and the wing is only noticeable on 2-3 month old rooster, not a 5 week old pullet.

Pullet #1: The "Healthy" Pullet
Pullet #2: The "Questionable" Pullet

Pullet #1 Head:


Pullet #1 Neck:


Pullet #1 Bottom:


Pullet #1 Wing:


Pullet #2 Head: Here you can see it has a much larger head and comb



Pullet #2 Neck: This just shows the side of the chicken, nothing too strange here



Pullet #2 Bottom: The feet are much brighter, I've only seen feet like Pellet #2 has online



Pullet #2 Wing: The wings are more "direct" towards the tip, I don't know why


This may not be a cause for an alarm, but I'm still very worried something is wrong. Birth defect? Ate some chemical? I have been looking all morning at this bird to see if I can find out why it's doing this. If someone knows if this is normal or I need to take it to a special animal vet please let me know ASAP.

 

[Bill Matthews]

To GimmeCake: I don't think anything is wrong physically with either chick....Number 1 is a pullet and number 2 is a cockrel....Rather typical looking.... The larger, prominent orange/red comb on #2 is the clue...There will usually be a noticeable difference in size between male and female Barred Rocks....Also, with only two chicks to compare the sample is too small to even consider what is "normal."... Best to you....

 

[GimmeCake]

I'll consider that. But I still think something may be wrong with #2's health.

 

[ten chicks]

I'll consider that. But I still think something may be wrong with #2's health.

Not sure what you are wanting to know,but they both look healthy. Chicks grow at different rates(just like children,and look a bit different from each other)or one could be a pullet and the other a roo.

 

[Eggcessive]

They both look like pullets to me(I have them but I'm not an expert.) Hatchery barred rocks are not always completely pure, since they mix a little good egg-layer genes for what most people want--lots of eggs. There will always be variations in chicks from a hatchery. Both of those look dark--if it were a cockerel the second one would be lighter in color and not have a black stripe up the front of it's legs like your number one pictures. Barred rock females get big combs pretty fast.

 

[GimmeCake]

While I'd agree with you, what I can say is they very well could have a black stripe on their legs and don't always look dark at first. I really don't know if it's a cockerel pullet (although like I mentioned at the top, the reason I posted here was due to strange growth, even for a cockerel), I'd have to wait and find out myself. Anyway, the chicken I'm focusing on is #2, I'm pretty sure #1 is a pullet.