There are several types of dwarfism. One of them produces birds that may not look as mature as they really are-they have short legs and generally are just small. Another type is one where the chick has a parrot beak, short legs, crooked toes, weird feathering and just is not long-lived.
I found that one Delaware hen I used to have was carrying two dwarf genes through genetic testing. Sounds weird, but this person who did the testing was a vet who was studying dwarfism in poultry and swears that it was absolutely possible. Her daughter, owned by Cetawin here on BYC was tested and found to be carrying a double dwarf gene.
This hen passed the genes on to some, if not all, of her daughters, so I sold her and her daughter that I had planned to keep to someone who wanted layers only. I'd have to find the picture of one of the dwarfs for you. Hopefully, yours is just extra small and not a true dwarf.
Here is one of the Delaware dwarfs in a picture with a normal, same-age sibling--this pic belongs to kathyinmo and was posted awhile back:
http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/...egree/1-02-10Randomchickenphotosin10de-19.jpg
I found that one Delaware hen I used to have was carrying two dwarf genes through genetic testing. Sounds weird, but this person who did the testing was a vet who was studying dwarfism in poultry and swears that it was absolutely possible. Her daughter, owned by Cetawin here on BYC was tested and found to be carrying a double dwarf gene.
This hen passed the genes on to some, if not all, of her daughters, so I sold her and her daughter that I had planned to keep to someone who wanted layers only. I'd have to find the picture of one of the dwarfs for you. Hopefully, yours is just extra small and not a true dwarf.
Here is one of the Delaware dwarfs in a picture with a normal, same-age sibling--this pic belongs to kathyinmo and was posted awhile back:
http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/...egree/1-02-10Randomchickenphotosin10de-19.jpg
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