Acute respiratory issue killed my rooster

[MIchic]

We had a Sebring bantam rooster that died of a respiratory issue within 2 days. Unfortunately, my family did not alert me to the behavioral changes when first noticed and by the next day when they told me he was wheezing, it was too late. We found him laying under a bush, barely breathing. Rattling, wheezy, shallow breathe, comb didn't seem faded, and was alert, just a lump of rooster as he was too weak to move. No wounds. Any ideas? We separated the others, cleaned the hay and sand out and wiped down shelves with antibacterial wipes. They free roam and no one else seems to have symptoms. I put apple cider vinegar and oregano in there water last 2 days as I read oregano is a natural antibiotic. Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Lovem all]

I am so sorry for your loss, I don't know what happened or how to help you.

 

[MIchic]

I am so sorry for your loss, I don't know what happened or how to help you.

Thank you

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. When you lose a chicken it is good to keep the body cold, not frozen in a cooler wrapped in double trash bags, and send it the next business day to your state poultry lab for a necropsy to look for a cause of death. There are a handful of respiratory diseases that include infectious bronchitis virus, ILT virus, mycoplasma gallisepticum, coryza, ORT, and aspergillosis. Most are chronic and can come and go, and most of the flock may be carriers. The disease is brought in by a carrier bird or sometimes wild birds or tracking them in on shoes. Antibiotics may be helpful in treating symptoms of the MG and coryza. Here is a list of most state poultry labs:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Folly's place]

I'm so sorry for your loss!
Agree with @Eggcessive on this; chill immediately in cold water, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate, don't freeze. Call your state veterinary lab about having a necropsy done. Here in Michigan, the chief poultry pathologist said that a body so saved can be done in a few days, and certainly it's necessary if any other birds show any symptoms at all.
Here we want to know the cause of any unexplained death, for the health and safety of our entire flock.
Mary