Dead Roo

[singlin]

Hi,
Our rooster died suddenly for no explained reason.
He was 6mo old.
Fine in the AM running around eating drinking water...protecting the girls.
By 5p he was laying on the ground, blinking, panting and had mucus looking stuff coming out of his beak. He died with in minutes of us finding him (gone all day)
We are in AZ, it has been cooler than normal. So he was by far not to hot.
The only thing that it coming across our mind is there are mushrooms popping up around the yard. It is monsoon season. They come up this time.
We have a dog and cat that leave them alone. But we are constantly knocking them out because the chickens are trying to eat them.
Could this be the cause? Does it sound like an illness? Do you think I should be worried about the kids and other animals? The chickens?
Thanks for your advice!

Staci in AZ

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

I'm not sure, and I am no expert, but I am sorry to hear that you lost your young roo

I wouldn't worry about your cat/dog/kids, other than not letting them eat the mushrooms

I guess I don't have any answers for you, but maybe somone else with more experience on here will chime in. Good luck and God Bless...

Terrah

 

[RevaVirginia]

Sorry about your loss

I'm betting someone will enlighten us as I'm at a loss to what may have happened. You've asked at the right place, this site is splendiferous.

Welcome to BYC

 

[Judy]

There are several possibilities. Some sort of poison, like mushrooms, is one. So is a bite, like from a snake or scorpion. Moldy or rotten material is another; he could have eaten a dead animal, for example, that carried something toxic. He could have gotten into any of several sorts of poisons. He could also have had some sort of internal problem, like a liver or kidney ailment, or a heart defect. I don't know if you will ever know, unless you take him for a necropsy, or have other chickens dying in a similar fashion.

Sorry for your loss.