what did this?

[ruth]

Did they look anything like the pics in this person's thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=86109

His problem turned out to be cannibalism. If 14 weeks old, what breed and how much room do they have? If you're saying they are eaten from the "vent" area, which was the case in the above thread, could be cannibalism.

I think there is a word changer that changed your original word to "picky" - try vent instead. I'm not aware of too many predators that could get through a 1" wire and would only eat out the vent area.

 

[treeclimber233]

They do look like the pictures in that link but wouldn't the larger ones peck on the smaller ones. It is the largest ones in the pen that are getting eaten. They are a mixture of babies. Some are bantam EE, some bantam cochins. That is all that are left now. In the beginning there were some Standard EE and older cochins (therefore larger than what is left) The larger ones were eaten first. And for the person that asked about the floor, it is also 1x1 inch wire.

 

[ruth]

If they looked like the ones in the pics my guess would be cannibalism. How many chicks do you have in the pen and how big is it?

Why the largest are going first I have no idea. Haven't had any experience with cannibalism, my chickens freerange. But if I were going to eat one of my cagemates, I'd pick the biggest one.

How often do you observe them and their behavior? Do they ever get to get out of enclosed run?

 

[WoodlandWoman]

The smallest species of weasel can get through 1" x 1" wire. That's one of the reasons why I use 1/2" wire on coop openings or tractors.