Dwarf chicken?

Nicci0110

Songster
Mar 15, 2023
351
590
186
Senatobia, MS
My Easter egger has always been smaller than her flock. She's 7 weeks. Her legs are half the size of all the other breeds I have. Is she a dwarf? She has always been much smaller. She took forever to feather but she eats normally and is super spunky. If she is what should I expect?
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There are several types of dwarfism. The one I've familiar with is thyrogenous dwarfism-both parents must contribute a gene to produce a dwarf and this type has several specific characteristics. The article Wyorp Rock linked for you will explain that in some detail with photos, but yours does not appear to be that-those have a mongoloidish appearance, hooked shortened parrot-like beak and such you'll read about in the article. They never live to maturity, ever. The oldest of those I've ever had and the only female died at 14 weeks of age. Most die by 7 weeks old. A smaller chick doesn't necessarily mean she's a dwarf, though. Just keep an eye on her/him and let us know what the chick is like in a few weeks. Be interesting to see.
 
There are several types of dwarfism. The one I've familiar with is thyrogenous dwarfism-both parents must contribute a gene to produce a dwarf and this type has several specific characteristics. The article Wyorp Rock linked for you will explain that in some detail with photos, but yours does not appear to be that-those have a mongoloidish appearance, hooked shortened parrot-like beak and such you'll read about in the article. They never live to maturity, ever. The oldest of those I've ever had and the only female died at 14 weeks of age. Most die by 7 weeks old. A smaller chick doesn't necessarily mean she's a dwarf, though. Just keep an eye on her/him and let us know what the chick is like in a few weeks. Be interesting to see.
Will do. I appreciate it and hope she doesn't have this then. It's really just her tiny legs lol
 
Will do. I appreciate it and hope she doesn't have this then. It's really just her tiny legs lol
There are other types of dwarfism that I am not as familiar with. Many years back, in my hatchery stock, a dwarf was hatched by someone who had gotten eggs from me out of my Barred Rocks. It wasn't thyrogenous dwarfism, but apparently one of the other kinds. The chick did have short legs and its development for a long time made it appear to be a pullet rather than the cockerel he actually was. He lived at least a year, but I lost track of him after that. His comb never got big as it should have been at his age, etc. That type of dwarfism can spontaneously appear in a line from seemingly nowhere, I've read, and is not necessarily a health issue. I'm not sure if yours is a dwarf or not, but she/he is definitely not of the thyrogenous type from the pictures I see so, hopefully, will be around for a long time.
 
There are other types of dwarfism that I am not as familiar with. Many years back, in my hatchery stock, a dwarf was hatched by someone who had gotten eggs from me out of my Barred Rocks. It wasn't thyrogenous dwarfism, but apparently one of the other kinds. The chick did have short legs and its development for a long time made it appear to be a pullet rather than the cockerel he actually was. He lived at least a year, but I lost track of him after that. His comb never got big as it should have been at his age, etc. That type of dwarfism can spontaneously appear in a line from seemingly nowhere, I've read, and is not necessarily a health issue. I'm not sure if yours is a dwarf or not, but she/he is definitely not of the thyrogenous type from the pictures I see so, hopefully, will be around for a long time.
Agreed. She looks completely normal other than her tiny legs and slow feathering and growth. Everyone says she is a pullet but she has such a roo attitude it's hard to believe. She is super sweet and snuggly. Would prefer to be held and even gets jealous if I'm holding someone else. My husband had her last night and she saw me holding another chicken and jumped to me and laid under the other to make it leave. I don't care if she's has it or not. I never wanted an Easter egger but here I am lol and I wasn't sure if her short legs were due to her breed or something more. They are seriously half the size of Everyone else I have who is the same age.
 
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There are other types of dwarfism that I am not as familiar with. Many years back, in my hatchery stock, a dwarf was hatched by someone who had gotten eggs from me out of my Barred Rocks. It wasn't thyrogenous dwarfism, but apparently one of the other kinds. The chick did have short legs and its development for a long time made it appear to be a pullet rather than the cockerel he actually was. He lived at least a year, but I lost track of him after that. His comb never got big as it should have been at his age, etc. That type of dwarfism can spontaneously appear in a line from seemingly nowhere, I've read, and is not necessarily a health issue. I'm not sure if yours is a dwarf or not, but she/he is definitely not of the thyrogenous type from the pictures I see so, hopefully, will be around for a long time.
Also, if she is a she do you know if she will still lay
 

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