Hello..
This morning, I found most of my chicks dead. I have 2 chicken tractors enclosed into a electric net. One has laying hens, the other 7 week old light sussex chickens + had 2 other larger ones for meat. the last 2-3 days while moving the tractors I lost the bailing wire that kept the doors shut properly and was replaced with some softer plastic coated wire. this morning at 5 i went to open the hens and I found all the chicks scattered, dead, only 2 were still alive. I heard one laying hen crying in alarm. the hen's tractor was also open one hen was outside and some of her feathers scattered around but she was unharmed, so all the other hens inside. The chicks were scattered around, mostly near the electric net, probably predator tried to drag the out and got shocked. I have no idea how it could have gotten in there, maybe it climbed a nearby tree and jumped in, or found a small hole where the net didnt touch perfectly on the ground. They have been bitten on neck and back, 2 close puncture similar to a snake bite.I don't know what to do, other than make sure the tractors touch perfectly on the ground and the doors are shut-shut. any suggestions?
This morning, I found most of my chicks dead. I have 2 chicken tractors enclosed into a electric net. One has laying hens, the other 7 week old light sussex chickens + had 2 other larger ones for meat. the last 2-3 days while moving the tractors I lost the bailing wire that kept the doors shut properly and was replaced with some softer plastic coated wire. this morning at 5 i went to open the hens and I found all the chicks scattered, dead, only 2 were still alive. I heard one laying hen crying in alarm. the hen's tractor was also open one hen was outside and some of her feathers scattered around but she was unharmed, so all the other hens inside. The chicks were scattered around, mostly near the electric net, probably predator tried to drag the out and got shocked. I have no idea how it could have gotten in there, maybe it climbed a nearby tree and jumped in, or found a small hole where the net didnt touch perfectly on the ground. They have been bitten on neck and back, 2 close puncture similar to a snake bite.I don't know what to do, other than make sure the tractors touch perfectly on the ground and the doors are shut-shut. any suggestions?
