7 chicks dead

[chickhaven1]

So I looked in on my freshly hatched babies this am... and there were 7 dead... 2 just laying there... That is hard for me, but i undrstand it happens... but what I found in the cornor of the brooder box just plain makes me angry and confussed... 5 chickies all wet with slime in a staight line... then in the 4 week old pen i found one dead.... I dont get it what is going on I have never had any problems like this before... whatis killing my babies???

 

[little blue]

may be a snake

is there a cover over the brooder?

 

[chickhaven1]

there is but it is topped with chick wire... there is a spot where there is a bigger hole though... we custom made ours it is a 7 foot long 3 foot wide wooden box with a see though top covered in chicken wire lid... the dogs run around out there so we but so hard steal goat fence attached to the top of the lid... its really heavy... it just kills me... these poor babies

 

[La Mike]

Chicks slimy and in a row sounds like a snake had dinner and was either scared or couldnt get back out with them so it spit them out
Believe this or not but I had a 6 foot snake get through 1 inch chicken wire killed 11 chicks
Caught it in the act so I know for sure what got mine

 

[zazouse]

Sorry for your loss.

This sounds like a snake got to your chicks.

 

[Oven Ready]

Have to concur, slime covered and not damaged sounds like snake regurgitate. It probably couldn't fit back out the way it came in and wasn't comfortable having a week long nap in your coop.
Block up those holes, he'll be back.