I think my bantam was trampled to death?

[schnipke]

I didn't think it'd be unwise to house larger chicks with my bantams. The 2 bantams and 4 larger chicks all got along, no pecking, no quarreling. They are free fed, so there's no fighting over food. I just woke up this morning and checked on my chicks as usual, and there was poor Despereaux, dead on the spot.

There was no swollen crop, no pasty butt, nothing out of the ordinary. She was thriving when I let her free-roam and cuddle with me yesterday. I don't get it.

Should I house my other bantam separately now?

 

[Judy]

If you didn't see any injury, chances are it wasn't killed by the others. All sorts of things can go wrong with them. If they get along with minimal pecking, no blood, I'd leave them together.

Here's an article on some of the things that can go wrong:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/39604/some-causes-of-early-chick-mortality