very small chicken

[tood]

I have a 5 1/2 week old barred rock who is about 1/3 the size of her sisters. Her feathers are very thin almost as if she is molting. She has a lot of spunk and keeps up with the others though she cannot fly to the high roost like the others. Any ideas?

 

[M@M@2four]

Just a runt---I have a silkie chick who is half the size of her brothers and sisters but is just a sweet little thing. She has no problem with handling herself!

Maybe just build her a lower roost? I also gently toss the smaller ones up to roost--they land up on the bar and sleep at night...they learn real quick to get themselves down and then I toss them right back up the next night...then they just learn to get up themselves.

 

[hinkjc]

Could she be a bantam?

Jody

 

[sussexgal]

I've got a columbian wyandotte like that... she stayed all fuzz for the longest time, then a few feathers and fuzz..... looked like the moths got into her. She didn't fully feather out until about 2 1/2 months and she is still only half the size of her flock mates at almost 5 months old. She is the cutest thing and can hold her own with no problem. Her name? Mutini - a tiny mutant.

 

[tood]

Thanks to all of you who replied. I feel much better. I have placed her on the higher roost a few times, but I worry that the jostling that goes on will unseat her, so now I leave her to fend. I have named her Thumbalina. She is sweet and follows me around. I have taken her to the garden with me when I weed and she is a great help and companion.