Help!! My fav roo is dead!

[Jkmsell06]

I am so distraught right now....we found my favorite rooster (white Plymouth Rock) frozen dead in the snow today....I just can't express how upset I am....he didn't look like anything hurt him...just maybe from the cold?? After an hour of trying to look him over and find a box for him, we did start to see lice like bugs all over him. No frostbite, though...
I have never lost a chicken like this before(only lost one other, but to a hawk...) so I don't really now what kind of things to expect.

Is it possible he died from the cold? He was out foraging in the snow today. All of our birds seemed to be happy to be outside because they had been "cooped up" from the storm from the past 2days.

It is bothering me that he had no frost bite on his comb or wattles...but was frozen solid....no bite marks, no blood, no feathers on the ground
So confused
TIA

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

Sometimes chickens just die suddenly without cause. But I am no expert. So sorry for your loss! It is never hard to loose them.

 

[Bird maniac]

I’m so sorry for your lossi have no idea what it could be, I hope some one else does

 

[microchick]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I love roosters so I can imagine how sad you are right now.

Chickens have such a small body mass that it doesn't take them long to freeze or for rigor to set in.

You said you saw lice or mites on him. Do you remember noticing before he died if his comb and wattles were pale or bright red? Either way I would be dusting everyone down with some 7 garden powder, clean and powder down the coop, roost bars and clean and dust the nesting boxes. Kinda sorta likely that if one has critters, the others do also.

Once again, I'm so sorry your baby died.

 

[junebuggena]

Lice can definitely kill, especially in cold weather.

 

[alibabba]

I am so distraught right now....we found my favorite rooster (white Plymouth Rock) frozen dead in the snow today....I just can't express how upset I am....he didn't look like anything hurt him...just maybe from the cold?? After an hour of trying to look him over and find a box for him, we did start to see lice like bugs all over him. No frostbite, though...
I have never lost a chicken like this before(only lost one other, but to a hawk...) so I don't really now what kind of things to expect.

Is it possible he died from the cold? He was out foraging in the snow today. All of our birds seemed to be happy to be outside because they had been "cooped up" from the storm from the past 2days.

It is bothering me that he had no frost bite on his comb or wattles...but was frozen solid....no bite marks, no blood, no feathers on the ground
So confused
TIA

I am so distraught right now....we found my favorite rooster (white Plymouth Rock) frozen dead in the snow today....I just can't express how upset I am....he didn't look like anything hurt him...just maybe from the cold?? After an hour of trying to look him over and find a box for him, we did start to see lice like bugs all over him. No frostbite, though...
I have never lost a chicken like this before(only lost one other, but to a hawk...) so I don't really now what kind of things to expect.

Is it possible he died from the cold? He was out foraging in the snow today. All of our birds seemed to be happy to be outside because they had been "cooped up" from the storm from the past 2days.

It is bothering me that he had no frost bite on his comb or wattles...but was frozen solid....no bite marks, no blood, no feathers on the ground
So confused
TIA

I seriously, seriously doubt the cold. I have had chickens for a while. They roost in trees in worst weather. Never had frost bite, Combs or feet. Never lost one to cold. I don't give, light or heat. I had a hen hatch and raise 3 chicks the snow in January. I'm in PA.
I found a Cockerel dead under the coop a couple weeks ago. No injury, very good weight. Similar situation happened a couple years ago, but summertime.

Anyway. It happens. I always have awesome cockerels looking for homes. Im sure someone near you has a one who needs a good home like you have, caring so much for your roo.

 

[alibabba]

Oh and second the dusting. I put poultry dust in an herb shaker, sprinkle them while they roost at night. And roosts, and nest boxes, and dust baths... Not a ton, just a little, no need for big clouds.

Edit to add...

Never died from cold. Now I've only had chickens, bantams, standards, chicks for about 5 years. They are wayyyy more cheerful than I am when I have to go out with their food and hot water for waterers. They don't care for snow, but seems more like preference and when the first one happens. I do shovel for them here and there.

 

[Jkmsell06]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I love roosters so I can imagine how sad you are right now.

Chickens have such a small body mass that it doesn't take them long to freeze or for rigor to set in.

You said you saw lice or mites on him. Do you remember noticing before he died if his comb and wattles were pale or bright red? Either way I would be dusting everyone down with some 7 garden powder, clean and powder down the coop, roost bars and clean and dust the nesting boxes. Kinda sorta likely that if one has critters, the others do also.

Once again, I'm so sorry your baby died.

Everything was red like normal....his coop and brooder boxes, etc get DE added regularly....I just don't know what has happened....he had always been so healthy and gentle.

Has anyone had their roo/chicken died from cold?

 

[bobbi-j]

I healthy chicken is not likely to die from the cold unless it's super, bitterly cold and they have no protection from the elements. And by super, bitterly cold, I'm talking double-digits below zero with long time exposure. I also think the lice probably have contributed to his death.

 

[BantyChooks]

Everything was red like normal....his coop and brooder boxes, etc get DE added regularly....I just don't know what has happened....he had always been so healthy and gentle.

Has anyone had their roo/chicken died from cold?

DE doesn't work. I also doubt cold weather was the cause.

Sometimes they just up and die, but lice probably contributed to it. It makes them uncomfortable and stressed even if they don't show it like you would expect.