Young coronation sussex rooster sitting, 'mouth breathing', stayin in coop? Update: died :(

[deedles]

Yesterday our King George was sitting down when the others were running around but then after a while he got up and seemed to be okay. (I wasn't home, hubby relates this)
Today, I saw him running with the 3 hens as usual but then just now when I went out to see the birds he was not with the others... he was sitting in the coop 'mouth breathing' and breathing heavily as if he was in some distress. I see nothing else wrong, no discharge, no injury or blood. Haven't seen by poo yet and not sure that I'd know which was his? I offered him some food and he stood up, looked at it and sat back down, this time around the corner of the coop like he's hiding. Poor dude.

I just took out some Sav a chick electrolyte drink with a bit of ACV and fermented garlic juice.

I don't want to stress him but should we pick him up and dropper some into his beak?

He is about 7 mos. old and up to now has been great. The other sussex hen and 2 marans are running and eating just fine.

Any thoughts on what else to do or to check would be appreciated!

Update: went out and picked him up to check him. Gave him a dropperful of electrolyte juice and was just looking at him when he fluttered out of my hands, fell on his back and died. He made a couple weird breathing noises but overall when I was holding him he was breathing hard but quietly. Heart failure maybe? Poor King George.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry for the sudden loss of your cockerel. I would try to refrigerate his body in a plastic bag, and send it in to your state vet or poultry lab for a necropsy. He could have died of a number of things, such as heart or other organ failure, a crop or gizzard impaction, poisoning, or something like Mareks disease. You could check him over, and try a necropsy at home if you cannot get a professional one. If you do it yourself, take pictures of organs to post here if you need opinions. Here is some contact info, and one on doing a necropsy at home:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2015/06/chicken-health-poultry-management.html
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-to-perform-necropsy-autopsy-on.html

 

[deedles]

oops, too late. He's been given a burial. I guess we'll never know.

 

[Eggcessive]

It can be fairly common to lose a cockerel or pullet around the time they appear grown. Heart ailments are fairly common, liver or kidney failure may also be problems. I would just five your remaining chickens a look to make sure that you are not hearing sneezing, wheezing, diarrhea or blood in droppings, and that all appear alert, active, and are eating and drinking normally. Sometimes we can notice an "off looking chicken" when one separates itself or is not eating. But those of use who have had chickens for awhile, have also experienced a sudden unknown loss.