Hens killed and ate baby chick

[Blackberry18]

Chickens can be cannibalistic. It's not your fault the chick got out. I usually move my chicks into the coop when they are 6-7 weeks old, then they are closer in size. Hens are very aggressive and will pick on newcomers. That's why you don't just move them right in. I actually had my hens pluck all of the feathers off a 6 week old pullet that one of my hens had raised.

Can the hens see the chicks through a fence or such?

 

[draag80]

Dont loose heart. When I planned to keep chickens I thought of them as innocent and lively creatures. But now I have realized they are extremely blood thirsty.

I have lost many to cannibalism. First I also lost heart. But there no other option than to accept the reality.

with best regards and wishes.

 

[Raderby Ranchin]

Yes the hens can see them. I have a small fenced in dirt bath that is attached to the coop over run. I closed it off. The one that died was small enough to fit thru a part I didn't notice was big enough for her to fit.

 

[Raderby Ranchin]

Dragg 80... Thanks.

Thank you everyone. The move to put them together was an emergency. I had them in the house but my dog wouldn't leave them alone and an unrelated incident destroyed their makeshift broody box. It was the middle of the week and too late in the day to build. Their relocation seemed to work, until that happened. I know they are just chickens but I had chicken fever after my hens started laying for the fist time. I've learned a few lessons the hard way. One of them is next time I get chicks I will have a more suitable, safe and secure broody box/area for them...

 

[KaijuVoodoo]

No matter what we know, it can still be shocking. I'm so sorry that happened!

 

[Raderby Ranchin]

I'm thinking this maybe related.

My Ameraucana, Feather is at the top of pecking order. She pecks and tries to pull off feathers from my Buff Orpington, Chicka constantly who was her challenger. By the way it looks Chicka does not challenge her anymore.

Feather breaks her eggs. I use to think she would just be impatient waiting for a spot and lay where her egg would drop and break. Today I got her egg from the nesting box and saw she pecked a hole in it.

I'm starting to think Feather killed the chick.

 

[keesmom]

It could have been any, or all of them.

You have to nip the egg pecking in the bud. Egg eating is a hard habit to stop once it starts. What are you feeding them? Maybe they need a higher protein feed. Maybe something like a flock block will occupy her.

 

[Raderby Ranchin]

I feed them layena, scratch, mealworms, table scraps and let them eat the buffet of slugs, bugs and lizards in the backyard.

 

[chickenjoe12]

my chickens once killed a chick (must of got seperated from mum) but they didnt eat it

 

[chickenjoe12]

I'm thinking this maybe related.

My Ameraucana, Feather is at the top of pecking order. She pecks and tries to pull off feathers from my Buff Orpington, Chicka constantly who was her challenger. By the way it looks Chicka does not challenge her anymore.

Feather breaks her eggs. I use to think she would just be impatient waiting for a spot and lay where her egg would drop and break. Today I got her egg from the nesting box and saw she pecked a hole in it.

I'm starting to think Feather killed the chick.

maybe they dont have enough grit?
but if feather is at the top of the pecking order it would be more likly her.