Two RIRs and One is Quite the Chunky Chick

[MrsAuberry00]

Why in the world is one of my RIRs so much fatter than the other? Is size in chickens as varied within breeds as it is in humans? If she was a McDonald's chicken sandwich, she'd be supersized. I doubt I need to tell you this, but she's the one closest to the camera.

 

[eggbert420]

The little one looks like a rooster.

 

[MrsAuberry00]

The little one looks like a rooster.

I've been wondering if that might be the case, but I'm absolutely horrendous at determining the sex of chickens. Sometimes I look at the feathers near the tail and think they look more pointy, but at other times, they look round like the ones I'm sure are female. They may not even be the same age since I don't know the definite ages of them. Another view of the smaller one:

But for the sake of argument, is it normal for chickens of the same breed to vary so much in girth? I'm a newer chicken mom, and this is my first flock.

 

[eggbert420]

A long time ago I hatched some buff orpingtons and one of them was half the size of the others. She was bigger than a bantam but her sisters out weighed her by a few pounds.

 

[MrsAuberry00]

A long time ago I hatched some buff orpingtons and one of them was half the size of the others. She was bigger than a bantam but her sisters out weighed her by a few pounds.

Okay, so they can be around the same age, same breed, but totally individual in their sizes, etc. Gotcha...makes perfect sense, but like I said, this is my first flock and I'm newer at this. Thanks.