Wyandotte Smaller than rest

[Tracyree]

Not baby chicks, but 8 weeks old. I wasn't sure where else to post this.

I have a silver laced wyandotte that is significantly smaller than the rest of the chicks that are only 5 days older than her. She was very slow to feather out. Think she's just runty? She seems healthy and happy. She's half the size of the others. She's the one in front. The others are an easter Egger and welsummer.

 

[specsussex]

Is she from a hatchery? I think they tend to be smaller, but other than that, could she possibly be a bantam? My only other guess would be the same as yours, that she is a runt. :-( Sorry I can't be more helpful...

 

[Tracyree]

Thanks. She's from a local hatchery. They don't have bantams, so guessing she's runty. It's fine by me, just hope my hens don't pick on her.

 

[marycs]

Tracyree: did you get them as pullets or baby chicks? Reason I am asking is because I may be in your same situation. I have a golden laced wyandotte that was hatched on the same date as 6 other chicks,all bought from a hatchery. She is much, much smaller than all the others and has not feathered hardly at all, even though the others are. I was not concerned until I got replacement chicks, one of which is a blue laced red wyandotte who is 5 days younger than the golden laced, and she has way more feathers and is about the same size.

I will say though, that she "holds her own" in the flock and seems to get along with everyone fine. She is a lot more quiet and shy and keeps to herself, but will certainly make a spot for herself at the feeder and will snuggle with the others.

 

[andreanar]

I'm in the same situation with one of my blrw. Same age but markedly smaller. Appears healthy.

 

[chickenmadness7]

I'm in the same situation with an almost 3 week SLW chick. We're starting to suspect she might actually be an Easter Egger. Time will tell! Mine is still a little fluff ball.

 

[Folly's place]

Time has to pass, and you'll see how they develop. Sometimes chickens of the same type will be very different in size as adults. Sometimes it's just a 'poor doer' who doesn't make it to healthy adulthood. I've also had hatchery error; the wrong bird(s) shipped by accident. Mary

 

[AgeOfAntiquity]

Hello,

Oddly, I have the same thing going on but they are much younger - only a week old. When they first arrived the Easter Egger was much larger than the other three, and I suspect she is a day older. Coming from a hatchery that does mixed breed orders (MyPetChicken) I would think some could be up to 24 hours older than others. On day one the Dominique chick was the smallest, but now the silver laced wyandotte is the smallest. The others passed her up in size. Maybe this breed grows more slowly? Or has more runts. Interesting ....

 

[beehivesrq]

Hi from 4 years later - I have a golden laced wynadotte chick who's about 3 weeks old, and she is much smaller than her sisters as you describe above. I was wondering what became of your Wyandottes? Did they catch up in size, or stay small? This one also seems to have constantly runny poop, though she's otherwise healthy - active, noisy, curious, eating and drinking well - was that common with yours?