Dead Cornish X 4.5 weeks and 4lbs

[Deepwoodz86]

So I'm new to chickens and I went meat birds first instead of eggs. I'm using a 6x8 hoop tractor for 15 birds. I've had zero loss until yesterday where I lost a bird at 4 weeks and 5 days. I put that bird on a scale and it was 4lbs on the dot between 4lbs and 3lbs and 15 ounces. I'm guessing it was a heart attack bird was on it's back legs locked straight out. I was wanting to know if anyone had an opinion. I will add they have free choice food. For the last 2 nights I have been removing it but they've had free choice food since day one. Also coincidence or not. I made chilli so I had put in their cage earlier that day the guts out of a couple peppers including 2 seranos and the outside of an onion.

 

[Northern.Ontario]

I stop giving free choice after 3 weeks old and it was only an 18% medicated chick starter. They have been on 17% ever since. What is the % protein you are giving yours?

 

[Northern.Ontario]

And mine are on a 12 hour on, 12 hour off schedule

 

[Deepwoodz86]

I'm going to 12 on 12 off now. But I'm more curious why he died. Was it a mistake on my part that's fixable? Was it luck of the draw?

 

[Northern.Ontario]

I'm going to 12 on 12 off now. But I'm more curious why he died. Was it a mistake on my part that's fixable? Was it luck of the draw?

Sometimes it's just weak genetics. Cornish cross are prone to sudden death (basically just flipping over on their backs and dying), cardiac arrest, ascites