Help! My baby roo just died in front of me!

[bamagirl68]

DH said he didn't see any mold although there could have been some there. My girls seem to all be ok. I have 11 of different breeds.

 

[Windy Ridge]

It must have been such a turn of the screw to go from treats and taking happy pictures to an awful life-and-death emergency, all in a moment.

Being able to connect a tragedy like this to some concrete cause would place it under your control... and you could make plans as to how to avoid something like that happening again. I'm sure it wasn't your flash, though. It wasn't in your control to stop. From the moment he began having a reaction, I suspect there was just nothing you could have done to change the outcome.

I agree with Speckledhen. It sounds as if he choked on something. If there was something caught in his throat he may have just aspirated a little bit into his lungs... that can be enough to do damage, even if his airway wasn't completely blocked.

It's also possible he died from something completely unrelated to what was going on at the time. I had a very young chick die who had been ailing for days, and she also "seized" at the time of death. She didn't choke. There were no flashing lights.

I'm so sorry this happened. I wish I could tell you that all you'll have to do is ______ in the future to ensure you'll never have to lose another chicken this way, but the truth is that you may never know for sure what happened. Sometimes that's the hardest thing to face. If it's a predator, a hole in the fence, an infection, a case of worms, there are concrete steps you can take to prevent other losses. You don't feel so helpless. This was particularly scary because it came out of nowhere, and there was nothing you could have done.

I'm so sorry.

 

[Chellester]

So sorry for your loss.

It's always a bummer to lose them.

 

[bamagirl68]

thanks all for your support and advice. I just hope I don't lose anymore! I am going to go check on the girls now.

 

[suburbanhomesteader]

Bamagirl-
I'm sorry for your loss. I don't think he choked, and as a microbiologist I would say that the likelihood of him dying of mold-related issues so soon after ingesting the fruit is very rare.

My Bo swallowed a grass snake today that was probably 8" long and 3/8" across. I tried to get it away from her; HA! not happening! I was just one of many girls chasing her, although I didn't necessarily want to eat it if I got it! A couple of weeks ago, she ate a small toad that was probably more than an inch across. I'm thinking if she can swallow that, yours probably didn't choke on fruit.

I agree with Windy, though. It probably wasn't in your control, and that's the most frustrating thing of all. I'm so sorry.

 

[Nugget]

While Bama's loss may not have been caused by mold, mycotoxicosis can begin to show as soon as absorbed, dose dependent. While 30 minutes is fast, it's not impossible, as it's a toxicity, not an infection.

"Tremorgenic mycotoxins produced by molds on foods are a relatively common... cause of tremors and seizures... These toxins are produced from a variety of fungi, however tremorgens produced by Penicillium spp. are the most commonly encountered. These molds grow on practically any food, including dairy products, grains, nuts, and legumes; compost piles may also provide a source of tremorgens... The overall affect is the development of muscle tremors and seizures. Signs include fine muscle tremors that may rapidly progress to more severe tremors and seizures. Death generally occurs in the first 2 to 4 hours (canine reference) and is usually secondary to respiratory compromise, metabolic acidosis or hyperthermia."

How are your other chicks Bama?

 

[seminolewind]

Sorry it happened, Bamagirl. You may never know why, us humans, we always need to know the reason, its hard to not know

 

[TurtleChick]

i'm so sorry for your loss!!!

 

[hencackle]

That's terrible about your little chick, I'm really very sorry.
Stephanie

 

[featherfooted]

I'm so sorry about your roo. I just lost a 6 month old hen so I know how you feel. By the way where in Central Alabama are you from? I grew up in Northport.

Georgia