I sometimes get one chick that ends up developmentally behind in a hatch with chicks purchased from different breeders. I don't believe all adult hens in my current adult flock have ever actually laid an egg, and have an issue with one consistently laying an egg with a very weak shell or having no shell ruining the nest daily. Out of 20 birds I get 7-10 eggs daily. I am very unhappy with this one breeder, and am in need of starting with fresh genetics. My Road Island Red hens flap their wings and fight one another like roosters, while my rooster tore the neck flesh right off of my favorite most docile Buff Orpington hen. The most meanest batch of birds I ever had.
I currently have week old Leghorns and one is only half the size of the rest. From day one her wings have stretched past her rearend. My experience has been the chick that starts out in the beginning physically developmentally behind ends up with some congenital defect that either kills them within the first few weeks or they evolve to just never properly lay eggs. Am I correct? Or has anyone had success and she might surprise me and be productive over time? My flock is kept for dual purpose, not as pets. I have plenty of meat birds, but prefer she lay.
I currently have week old Leghorns and one is only half the size of the rest. From day one her wings have stretched past her rearend. My experience has been the chick that starts out in the beginning physically developmentally behind ends up with some congenital defect that either kills them within the first few weeks or they evolve to just never properly lay eggs. Am I correct? Or has anyone had success and she might surprise me and be productive over time? My flock is kept for dual purpose, not as pets. I have plenty of meat birds, but prefer she lay.