polish chicks dead within days.why?

[pandorasun6]

I have (had) 11 chicks, 5 plymouth rock, 4 americauna, 2 polish. 3 americauna's were a week older and much larger. Last week I found one polish chick dead and thought the goat had stomped him when he busted the pen open, but then just now I found the other one in a very similar condition, spawled out, limp. He made a final "cheep" as I buried him. Is there a reason the polish aren't surviving? Is it possible the large chicks attacked him (he was in the area I fed them). They are all 7 to 8 weeks old.

also. how soon can I tell which ones are roosters??

 

[johncv]

some chicks are just weak. it is possible another chick attacked them or maybe a rodent. ive only lost 1 chick it was my silver laced and she was 6 weeks old and we had a bad rain storm and thought she would be ok and follow everyone inside but i guess not cuz the next morning she was dead but her 2 sisters were fine.