First death of the year😞

[My2butterflies]

Late this morning I went out to check on the birds as usual. It’s very windy and gusty today. I’ve had to chase down gutter spouts and sleds the kids forgot about
I peeked in the guinea coop expecting to see the guineas hiding in there from the wind. The flock was gone except for one lavender guinea laying down with its head between a nest box and the wall. I had remembered seeing it there when I locked up last night. Right away I knew something was wrong and ran in to check it out. I thought he was dead already. His body felt really stiff.
I gently picked him up and realized he was alive!
I brought him in and looked him over for injuries or breaks and couldn’t find anything! He was fine yesterday! Shortly after setting up a temporary box for him, he died

The rest of the flock seems fine. Everyone is very actively doing guinea stuff in the yard. I haven’t noticed any major aggression between males, then again the wind has kept me from spending very much time outside with them. I just don’t know what else it could be. He was actively hanging out with another lav male and female yesterday.

The only thing I did different last night was I left a window open. The wind was blowing from the opposite side of the coop so I thought it would be fine. These no way he got too cold, right? Temps were above freezing,but still in the 30’s.
Ugh, I feel so awful

 

[HKG]

I a so sorry for your loss

 

[Kk Augy]

Sorry about your loss one of my hens died unexpectedly in a corner of the coop maby she broke her neck but it's just the life cycle

 

[Sydney65]

I wld think if it was from fighting or predator, there wld be signs. If I don't keep Nugget & Blue separated there are fresh head wounds every day.
Based on when Bella 1 flew into a car, you'd recognize a broken neck, too.
There are other things that can make them ill that may be less identifiable-moldy feed or some other not good thing. Something I've not seen really talked abt in here but read is a propensity for intestinal worms. Had a chat w/my vet abt that & was assured the dogs heartworm med wld cover it were mine to have them.
R2 said their tolerance to cold was pretty high, even if he were an outcast sleeping alone 30° shldnt affect him, unless that didn't factor in windchill?

 

[My2butterflies]

I wld think if it was from fighting or predator, there wld be signs. If I don't keep Nugget & Blue separated there are fresh head wounds every day.
Based on when Bella 1 flew into a car, you'd recognize a broken neck, too.
There are other things that can make them ill that may be less identifiable-moldy feed or some other not good thing. Something I've not seen really talked abt in here but read is a propensity for intestinal worms. Had a chat w/my vet abt that & was assured the dogs heartworm med wld cover it were mine to have them.
R2 said their tolerance to cold was pretty high, even if he were an outcast sleeping alone 30° shldnt affect him, unless that didn't factor in windchill?

He looked completely fine. No broken bones, no peck marks or scratches. Just a tiny spot of frostbite damage on one of his wattles from last month. Nose was clear and feathers all look good. No ones been ripping them out or anything like that.
His body being stiff while he was still alive is what made me think maybe he was cold, but I really don’t think it was cold enough to bother them.

Ive never wormed them before, it’s nothing I’ve ever considered. Could worms kill them over night like that? Totally fine and then dead 12hrs later?

 

[the_peanut_coop]

I'm so sorry. Anyone talk to me if you need support. or some other people else. I know that there are a lot of nice people out there.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I am so sorry.

 

[Sydney65]

He looked completely fine. No broken bones, no peck marks or scratches. Just a tiny spot of frostbite damage on one of his wattles from last month. Nose was clear and feathers all look good. No ones been ripping them out or anything like that.
His body being stiff while he was still alive is what made me think maybe he was cold, but I really don’t think it was cold enough to bother them.

Ive never wormed them before, it’s nothing I’ve ever considered. Could worms kill them over night like that? Totally fine and then dead 12hrs later?

I honestly don't know- like I said, I hadn't seen it discussed. Mb one of the gurus has info on it? I was glad ivermectin is used to treat it, as I have that for mites.

 

[My2butterflies]

I honestly don't know- like I said, I hadn't seen it discussed. Mb one of the gurus has info on it? I was glad ivermectin is used to treat it, as I have that for mites.

I’m really hoping whatever killed him was just a one time/bird thing.
So far everyone else has been good. The flock was very active yesterday exploring farther out then they have since last fall.
Its still dark and rainy out, so I haven’t check the flock yet today. I won’t lie it makes me scared to open the door thinking I might find another dead bird

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Late this morning I went out to check on the birds as usual. It’s very windy and gusty today. I’ve had to chase down gutter spouts and sleds the kids forgot about
I peeked in the guinea coop expecting to see the guineas hiding in there from the wind. The flock was gone except for one lavender guinea laying down with its head between a nest box and the wall. I had remembered seeing it there when I locked up last night. Right away I knew something was wrong and ran in to check it out. I thought he was dead already. His body felt really stiff.
I gently picked him up and realized he was alive!
I brought him in and looked him over for injuries or breaks and couldn’t find anything! He was fine yesterday! Shortly after setting up a temporary box for him, he died

The rest of the flock seems fine. Everyone is very actively doing guinea stuff in the yard. I haven’t noticed any major aggression between males, then again the wind has kept me from spending very much time outside with them. I just don’t know what else it could be. He was actively hanging out with another lav male and female yesterday.

The only thing I did different last night was I left a window open. The wind was blowing from the opposite side of the coop so I thought it would be fine. These no way he got too cold, right? Temps were above freezing,but still in the 30’s.
Ugh, I feel so awful

I am so sorry, My2butterflies!!!! I really hate losing my birds too!!! From your description, it kind of sounded like he was stuck, but I guess that wasn’t the case? There are so many random things that could have killed him... My state diagnostic lab will do free necropsies for chickens but not guineas, so I’ve been reluctant to necropsy. I did submit one hen last year, and she ended up having a reproductive problem. Did your guys keel feel thin? That would indicate a health problem of at least a week, I would think. He might also have eaten a string or other foreign body, since it sounds like you have new stuff exposed outside from melting snow?