Chick missing, another being bullied

[BookThief]

Last year I had a flock of 20, that was unfortunately reduced to 1 when a Coyote found a weak point in the run. The 1 is not living with my mother. My partner and decided to get some more birds this year, and we got 8 chicks, and 2 ducklings. Had them for about 3 weeks now, and one of the ducklings unfortunately, suddenly, passed away. The other duckling was chirping, and was incredibly upset so we decided to get another duckling. While at a store, we saw they got some bantams and RIRs in, so we got 1 RIR and 2 bantams, along with one duckling. This was yesterday. This morning, we went to check on them and one of the bantams is missing. We were afraid it somehow got out and was killed by a cat (we currently keep our babies inside), but our cats won't eat what they kill, and we can't find the baby anywhere, dead or alive. The other bantam appears to be sick, and we noticed the orpingtons keep pecking on it. Everyone is fine with the RIR and the new duckling.

So I guess my question is, will 3 week old chicks kill and eat a 2 day old chick? And will they do this if the chick is sick? I tried to do some research, but all I can find relates to adult chickens killing chicks.

We couldn't find evidence (blood, feathers, etc.) anywhere in their coop. But we didn't want to completely rule it out just yet. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Last year I had a flock of 20, that was unfortunately reduced to 1 when a Coyote found a weak point in the run. The 1 is not living with my mother. My partner and decided to get some more birds this year, and we got 8 chicks, and 2 ducklings. Had them for about 3 weeks now, and one of the ducklings unfortunately, suddenly, passed away. The other duckling was chirping, and was incredibly upset so we decided to get another duckling. While at a store, we saw they got some bantams and RIRs in, so we got 1 RIR and 2 bantams, along with one duckling. This was yesterday. This morning, we went to check on them and one of the bantams is missing. We were afraid it somehow got out and was killed by a cat (we currently keep our babies inside), but our cats won't eat what they kill, and we can't find the baby anywhere, dead or alive. The other bantam appears to be sick, and we noticed the orpingtons keep pecking on it. Everyone is fine with the RIR and the new duckling.

So I guess my question is, will 3 week old chicks kill and eat a 2 day old chick? And will they do this if the chick is sick? I tried to do some research, but all I can find relates to adult chickens killing chicks.

We couldn't find evidence (blood, feathers, etc.) anywhere in their coop. But we didn't want to completely rule it out just yet. Any help is greatly appreciated.

It is not likely your older chicks killed and ate your younger chick. If the chick is missing, it was likely nabbed by a predator. Where are you keeping the chicks? In a coop? Inside your house? My guess would be it was a rat. A coon or possum would likely have eaten ALL your chicks. A rat will pick them off one by one.

 

[Buckingham Palace]

Last year I had a flock of 20, that was unfortunately reduced to 1 when a Coyote found a weak point in the run. The 1 is not living with my mother. My partner and decided to get some more birds this year, and we got 8 chicks, and 2 ducklings. Had them for about 3 weeks now, and one of the ducklings unfortunately, suddenly, passed away. The other duckling was chirping, and was incredibly upset so we decided to get another duckling. While at a store, we saw they got some bantams and RIRs in, so we got 1 RIR and 2 bantams, along with one duckling. This was yesterday. This morning, we went to check on them and one of the bantams is missing. We were afraid it somehow got out and was killed by a cat (we currently keep our babies inside), but our cats won't eat what they kill, and we can't find the baby anywhere, dead or alive. The other bantam appears to be sick, and we noticed the orpingtons keep pecking on it. Everyone is fine with the RIR and the new duckling.

So I guess my question is, will 3 week old chicks kill and eat a 2 day old chick? And will they do this if the chick is sick? I tried to do some research, but all I can find relates to adult chickens killing chicks.

We couldn't find evidence (blood, feathers, etc.) anywhere in their coop. But we didn't want to completely rule it out just yet. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I’m soo sorry for your losses. i hope the rest do well.

 

[BookThief]

It is not likely your older chicks killed and ate your younger chick. If the chick is missing, it was likely nabbed by a predator. Where are you keeping the chicks? In a coop? Inside your house? My guess would be it was a rat. A coon or possum would likely have eaten ALL your chicks. A rat will pick them off one by one.

Yeah, they are inside my house currently as it's still too cold for them outside. I was wondering if it was a rat too, as I do have pet rats, however, that would involve the chick getting out of its enclosure, and getting into the rat cage, or a rat getting out, killing a chick, and returning to its cage, which is not likely. And I'm certain I don't have any wild rats or mice, as my cats are very good at catching them. Although my cats could have killed the chick if it got out, they never eat their kill, and they always leave their kill in a very specific location. So I have no idea what happened to the little guy...

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Last year I had a flock of 20, that was unfortunately reduced to 1 when a Coyote found a weak point in the run. The 1 is not living with my mother. My partner and decided to get some more birds this year, and we got 8 chicks, and 2 ducklings. Had them for about 3 weeks now, and one of the ducklings unfortunately, suddenly, passed away. The other duckling was chirping, and was incredibly upset so we decided to get another duckling. While at a store, we saw they got some bantams and RIRs in, so we got 1 RIR and 2 bantams, along with one duckling. This was yesterday. This morning, we went to check on them and one of the bantams is missing. We were afraid it somehow got out and was killed by a cat (we currently keep our babies inside), but our cats won't eat what they kill, and we can't find the baby anywhere, dead or alive. The other bantam appears to be sick, and we noticed the orpingtons keep pecking on it. Everyone is fine with the RIR and the new duckling.

So I guess my question is, will 3 week old chicks kill and eat a 2 day old chick? And will they do this if the chick is sick? I tried to do some research, but all I can find relates to adult chickens killing chicks.

We couldn't find evidence (blood, feathers, etc.) anywhere in their coop. But we didn't want to completely rule it out just yet. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I am not sure about three week old chicks, but I do know that the commercial production bred RIRs and the commercial Leghorn strains seem to delight in killing other chickens.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Yeah, they are inside my house currently as it's still too cold for them outside. I was wondering if it was a rat too, as I do have pet rats, however, that would involve the chick getting out of its enclosure, and getting into the rat cage, or a rat getting out, killing a chick, and returning to its cage, which is not likely. And I'm certain I don't have any wild rats or mice, as my cats are very good at catching them. Although my cats could have killed the chick if it got out, they never eat their kill, and they always leave their kill in a very specific location. So I have no idea what happened to the little guy...

Few cats will take on a fully adult rat. Look for Norwegian rat tunnels around the home place.

 

[BookThief]

Few cats will take on a fully adult rat. Look for Norwegian rat tunnels around the home place.

Thay only animals that are around my house are my neighbors cats, and some wild birds. Any wild rodents here are long gone.