Heart Attack?

[BooBear]

This evening while watching the chickies and fixing to change out the waterer in the bantams brooder for them, poor Spot (11 week old cockeral) suddenly made a screech and fell down. A hen was near him and looked quite puzzled. He was having trouble breathing, his neck went limp, feet started to loose warmth, and his wattles began to go purple.

Before this happened he was running around with the other 3 young cockerals that are the same age as him. They were foraging and play fighting. Spot never showed any symptoms of illness. His eyes were bright, nostrils clear, no bad breath, no mites, and he pooped normally.

Could this have been a heart attack? I am completely puzzled and was not able to save him. He went down very fast as he was unable to get enough air.
I did not see the start of what happened so am unsure if maybe he ran into the corner of the porch while chasing the other boys. I only turned my back a moment when he went down. I turned around when he screeched assuming one of the others must have pecked him but instead saw him colapse.

Our temps have been on the hot side and we are under a drought. I have been making sure all the critters have fresh clean water every day. It is part of my daily routine. I also like to give them a good look over as I am paranoid about cooties.

Dad thinks it was heart failure. He was one of the sweet chickens that would let me pick him up and pet him. I feel bad because I did not know what to do for him.

 

[sourland]

Sounds like a heart attack. Sorry that you had to deal with that.

 

[chicknmania]

I'm sorry about your loss. It sounds like it could've been. Just like people, young ones sometimes have heart failure, too. If it wasn't a Holiday weekend you might have been able to get a necropsy done fairly cheaply, and then you would know for sure.

 

[BooBear]

Thanks

Yeah it was very unexpected. I hate when a young critter human or animal is in pain or dies. It is very sad to me.

 

[jjthink]

I'm so sorry. I agree - it's so very sad. When this happened to beautiful utterly joyful hen Annie before her second birthday it was so sad......too young....

JJ

 

[BooBear]

I could not find an updated picture of Spot, he managed to avoid the camera the other day when I was getting pictures of everyone.

In this older picture Spot is wearing the saddle as his flockmates stripped his back of feathers. The instigator was rehomed. These four always hang out together.

Scruffy looks like Spots twin. This is the updated shot of Scruffy. Spot had the same size comb n wattles.

I read about chickens up and having heart failure but never considered any of my young group to have one.

 

[Celtic Chick]

I am so very sorry for your loss also. It is especially hard when it is a nice, friendly one too.
I have read of a few illnesses that can cause a sudden death with no apparant symptoms. Take comfort in knowing that it does happen and there was nothing that could have been done about it. If there were symptoms, I have no doubt that you would have done everything possible to save him. These things unfortunately do happen. Turn your grief into more love and attention for the rest of your flock. They will appreciate it. Take care.
He looked adorable.