- Oct 24, 2011
- 10
- 0
- 22
I had three 8 week old chicks I got from a hatchery. I also have 3 hens in a coop. For the last 2 weeks I have been putting the chicks in a cage during the day next to the hens. Yesterday I divided the coop and had the chicks on one side, hens on the other with a small door big enough for only the chicks to escape. It went fine yesterday, today I came home to a dead chick with the hens pecking the body.
The head was gone. The chick had gone to the hen's side (which they have done this before) and they killed her. I now have chicken wire seperating the surviving two chicks from the hens and plan on waiting until they are adults to put them together. What else can I do?? I feel so bad and feel this was my fault.
Also, it's going to get cold here in MO soon, the chicks are in the run part of the coop, no real shelter except the top. How cold can chickens/chicks get? I would love for them to live with the big hens but am scared.
With the head completely gone I guess it's possible the chick stuck her head outside and my dog bit it off but I'm guessing the hens did it. The dog was not acting weird and was not near the coop.
Also, it's going to get cold here in MO soon, the chicks are in the run part of the coop, no real shelter except the top. How cold can chickens/chicks get? I would love for them to live with the big hens but am scared.
With the head completely gone I guess it's possible the chick stuck her head outside and my dog bit it off but I'm guessing the hens did it. The dog was not acting weird and was not near the coop.