The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: NormandyMary on March 10, 2016, 04:34:11 pm

Title: Dwarf birds.
Post by: NormandyMary on March 10, 2016, 04:34:11 pm

Hi everyone, its years since I posted on here, but hope you can help me. Last September, we were presented with 16 baby chicks quite by surprise by one of our hens. We had a mixture of Light Sussex, Black Rocks and Warrens, all sharing their Dad's markings. (He was a Light Sussex too.) Now, here's the thing. The blacks and the whites have grown up to be normal sized birds, whereas the red girls, as well as being pale in colour, are very small. They have the tiniest of legs and their bodies are only around three quarters the size of their sisters. We ended up with 12 chooks surviving, 9 girls and 3 boys. All are doing well now, at 6 months old and the girls are laying like mad. Again, the red girls' eggs are much smaller. Don't you have to breed bantams from bantams?
Any ideas?

Title: Re: Dwarf birds.
Post by: fsmnutter on March 10, 2016, 04:37:34 pm

Could it not just be they are not yet fully grown?

Title: Re: Dwarf birds.
Post by: roddycm on March 10, 2016, 05:47:40 pm

interesting! Do you have any photos? Maybe you could create a new variety!

Title: Re: Dwarf birds.
Post by: NormandyMary on March 11, 2016, 04:22:30 pm

I'll take some in the next day or two and post them. Would love to know what you think.

Title: Re: Dwarf birds.
Post by: roddycm on March 12, 2016, 04:34:52 pm

It would be very interesting to see them!  :chook:

Title: Re: Dwarf birds.
Post by: Steph Hen on March 12, 2016, 05:20:58 pm

I have found that Autumn or winter born chicks can take longer to mature. They tend to get ther eventually though - so maybe not the same as yours. Be fine to see some photos :-)