Dead chicks by mom's hand???

[mamasnowwolf]

We had 2 chicks hatch over the weekend much to our surprise. (I had dates written on the eggs) Then I had another 2 chicks hatch Monday or Tuesday. Tuesday, one of the chicks got trapped under the coop but appeared to be fine. The next morning, we put mom, chicks, food and water in a chicken tractor to help protect the chicks from getting trapped. We put a tarp over the top to protect from rain, and boards in case water got under the tractor. Last night, when when it was time to move mom and chicks back to the coop, the 2 younger chicks were dead. Not just dead, but like ripped apart. Would mom have done this and why? This tractor is in the middle of the chicken run with all the other birds so no known predators. Any ideas?

 

[Rose the Legbar]

Some hens are NOT good mothers and will kill chicks. She didn’t accept the younger chicks and killed them.

 

[mamasnowwolf]

How sad.