Question on word from Western Virginia

[Anderson, Bradley Bramwell]

Hello all,
I'm trying to find any information on a word heard in Carroll County,
Virginia. The spelling of the word is unclear; it sounds like "widdie" and
refers to a pre-pubescent chicken, just before becoming a "pullet" - an
adolescent chicken. This was (or still is) a common term among farmers in
the area. Does anyone have any information on the origin of this word or
anything else about its meaning?

Thanks!

Brad Montgomery-Anderson
Linguistics Department
University of Kansas