2 dead roosters... Thoughts...

[allisonbatman]

I had 3 roosters and 1 hen living peacefully together. They are all about a year old.
Saturday last week while I was out, my neighbor bought and brought over 5 hens, about 4 months old.
Yesterday(Friday) I came home from work to find one rooster laying in the yard. He didn't move when I tossed cracked corn in or when the hens scattered around him. I had an appointment at the vet, but (as my husband described it) he started gagging/choking. Then passed. All the other birds looked fine.
Early this afternoon my husband went down to the coop to find another rooster already dead inside.
I obviously don't know what happened, but wonder if the other hens could be carrying something? The only other new thing is purina flock block I picked up on Monday.
I had my husband add a vitamin/electrolyte solution to the water, as I have no idea what else to do. I don't want to lose any more of my babies. Thanks in advanced for any insight.

 

[Haunted55]

I had 3 roosters and 1 hen living peacefully together. They are all about a year old.
Saturday last week while I was out, my neighbor bought and brought over 5 hens, about 4 months old.
Yesterday(Friday) I came home from work to find one rooster laying in the yard. He didn't move when I tossed cracked corn in or when the hens scattered around him. I had an appointment at the vet, but (as my husband described it) he started gagging/choking. Then passed. All the other birds looked fine.
Early this afternoon my husband went down to the coop to find another rooster already dead inside.
I obviously don't know what happened, but wonder if the other hens could be carrying something? The only other new thing is purina flock block I picked up on Monday.
I had my husband add a vitamin/electrolyte solution to the water, as I have no idea what else to do. I don't want to lose any more of my babies. Thanks in advanced for any insight.

It is possible that something was brought in. There isn't enough info here to even make a guess. Please, if you can get some pictures of your remaining birds especially the new birds.

If you still have the flock block, remove it from them as this may be the cause. More information please. Was there anything about the roo that was found dead that stood out? Do the new birds have any type of issues? Look closely, anything stand out? Weird noises? Standing odd? Urates on their back feathers? Had the roosters been fighting over the new females?

 

[Time-Out]

If you do find another dead bird, I'd contact the vet straight away and get it in for an autopsy. That way you'd find out for definite if and what is affecting them. If it's still early enough (doubt it), you could try ringing the vet now to see if it's not too late for the last one that passed.

 

[allisonbatman]

I will try to get some pictures in the morning, I didn't see the 2nd rooster, but I couldn't find anything obviously wrong with Sugar (the 1st). No wounds, he did feel boney, but he generally wouldn't have allowed that much handling in the past. I did have my husband remove the block today.

It is possible that something was brought in.  There isn't enough info here to even make a guess.  Please, if you can get some pictures of your remaining birds especially the new birds. 

If you still have the flock block, remove it from them as this may be the cause.  More information please.  Was there anything about the roo that was found dead that stood out?  Do the new birds have any type of issues?  Look closely, anything stand out?  Weird noises?  Standing odd?  Urates on their back feathers?  Had the roosters been fighting over the new females?

 

[allisonbatman]

DH burried both the roosters already... But I will highly consider that if it happens again.

If you do find another dead bird, I'd contact the vet straight away and get it in for an autopsy. That way you'd find out for definite if and what is affecting them. If it's still early enough (doubt it), you could try ringing the vet now to see if it's not too late for the last one that passed.

 

[Haunted55]

If you do find another dead bird, I'd contact the vet straight away and get it in for an autopsy. That way you'd find out for definite if and what is affecting them. If it's still early enough (doubt it), you could try ringing the vet now to see if it's not too late for the last one that passed.

X's 2!!!

 

[Haunted55]

DH burried both the roosters already... But I will highly consider that if it happens again.

http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalHealth/statevets.aspx

If you don't have a Vet who sees poultry, you can use the above link to find your state's Vet who can help you arrange for a necropsy to be done. It's always a good idea to have this info before you need it, trust me!

Boney...how so?

 

[allisonbatman]

His breastbone felt prominent, although I'll be honest I've never really handled him too much, just one of the other roosters (who seems more "filled out" around the breast) and the hen (who is also pretty filled out), so I couldn't say if he was skinny or just thinner in general.

http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalHealth/statevets.aspx

If you don't have a Vet who sees poultry, you can use the above link to find your state's Vet who can help you arrange for a necropsy to be done.  It's always a good idea to have this info before you need it, trust me!

Boney...how so?