So sad.

[gailbelanger]

Don't know if the adults are responsible but because the crate is small for the number of chicks, the chicks cannot move away from the walls for safety. Replacing the "shield" and covering the entire crate with hardware cloth will provide a lot more safety against anything that might reach in and also allow the older birds to clearly see the little ones, so they can get used to them and eventually be able to integrate.

Especially since the little ones where the ones sticking there heads out not the other way around. We actually changed the whole thing to big rabbit cages that the metal bars are closer together where the littler ones can't stick their heads out. And they stack so I was able to separate them to give them more room.
Its hard because they need to be where the older chickens are so that the older chickens get accustomed to them because they are going to live together in peaceful harmony someday over the rainbow, lol.