Clov3r
In the Brooder
Round one: Had 5 week old chicks, about 11 of them. Started allowing them out inside of the chicken barn. (Our chickens are free range but cooped at night). Came in one morning to a massacre. All but TWO chicks were dead and strewn all over the barn. In hindsight, probably not smart, we had just never had that issue before. It was most definitely death by the adult chickens.
Round 2: locked the chicks back up in a smaller enclosure in the barn. Came in next morning, caught a hen pecking at one that she'd pulled partially through the pen. Culled the hen and she became stew that night.
Round 3: Rebuilt the enclosure with smaller chickem wire. Got more chicks. Came in this morning, found 3 dead and one missing. They had to have found a way through the door of the enclosure. Again, definitely death by chickens. Heads pecked.
I'm not sure what to do here. These chicks are at least 8 weeks old, and someone in my flock is still killing them. I've never dealt with this before, and don't know whether I should find and cull the culprits, or chalk it up to chicken nature and just keep the chicks well enclosed until they're full freaking grown.
Round 2: locked the chicks back up in a smaller enclosure in the barn. Came in next morning, caught a hen pecking at one that she'd pulled partially through the pen. Culled the hen and she became stew that night.
Round 3: Rebuilt the enclosure with smaller chickem wire. Got more chicks. Came in this morning, found 3 dead and one missing. They had to have found a way through the door of the enclosure. Again, definitely death by chickens. Heads pecked.
I'm not sure what to do here. These chicks are at least 8 weeks old, and someone in my flock is still killing them. I've never dealt with this before, and don't know whether I should find and cull the culprits, or chalk it up to chicken nature and just keep the chicks well enclosed until they're full freaking grown.