I woke up and my Rooster I saw dead

[SashaLClay]

So I’m a new chicken lady here. I’ve only had chickens since July. I’ve researched a lot and this site has been great. Anyways, I went to let my chickens out of their coop and as usual they were waiting for me. I noticed my 4 month old Cinnamon Queen Rooster wasn’t with the other 13. So went in the coop and he was dead laying under the roosting bars. I looked him over and no apparent injuries. No missing feathers, peck marks, crop was empty. Yesterday he was acting normal. He and the other Cinnamon Queen Rooster did their normal little face stare and got their hens in order to go in the coop. He was still warm except his face when I found him. Eyes were clear and no nasal drainage. Could he of broken his neck somehow? The tallest roosting bar is about a 1 1/2 feet off the platform. I’m worried maybe there’s a silent chicken killer besides heart attack. Don’t want my chickens all to go from a disease. The temp was 45 here last night.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Oh goodness! I'm sorry to hear that. Welcome to BYC but I wish it was on a better situation. I'm sorry, I don't know much about Injuries/Diseases. But I CAN try and bring a professional.

@chickens really and @drumstick diva , could you help?

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry about losing your rooster. It can be common to lose a chicken suddenly when they reach their point of maturity from heart failure or another organ failure. Since his crop was empty, he may have been kept from food and water by the other rooster or chickens. This can be common with young cockerels. But he also could have had coccidiosis or another intestinal problem. A necropsy performed by the state vet or poultry lab might find a cause, or you could open him up and look at his organs yourself. Look at the inside of the crop and gizzard, intestines, the liver, heart, and abdomen. Take pictures. I have lost birds over the years during the night and found them under the roost in morning.

 

[chickens really]

Anything is possible...You have other Adult Roosters?...He possibly got killed and broke his neck?..Or a heartattack?

 

[SashaLClay]

Oh goodness! I'm sorry to hear that. Welcome to BYC but I wish it was on a better situation. I'm sorry, I don't know much about Injuries/Diseases. But I CAN try and bring a professional.

@chickens really and @drumstick diva , could you help?

Thank you

Anything is possible...You have other Adult Roosters?...He possibly got killed and broke his neck?..Or a heartattack?

Anything is possible...You have other Adult Roosters?...He possibly got killed and broke his neck?..Or a heartattack?

No they are all 4 months and raised together from day 1. I was thinking heart attack but isn’t he too young?

 

[chickens really]

How was he laying when found?...Was he on his back with legs straight down?

 

[SashaLClay]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry about losing your rooster. It can be common to lose a chicken suddenly when they reach their point of maturity from heart failure or another organ failure. Since his crop was empty, he may have been kept from food and water by the other rooster or chickens. This can be common with young cockerels. But he also could have had coccidiosis or another intestinal problem. A necropsy performed by the state vet or poultry lab might find a cause, or you could open him up and look at his organs yourself. Look at the inside of the crop and gizzard, intestines, the liver, heart, and abdomen. Take pictures. I have lost birds over the years during the night and found them under the roost in morning.

How was he laying when found?...Was he on his back with legs straight down?

He was on his side

 

[MzGina]

So sorry about your Roo. I got my first chickens in August.. and it was about 45 here too last night so I went out before coffee to check on them.
Again very sorry..

 

[SashaLClay]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry about losing your rooster. It can be common to lose a chicken suddenly when they reach their point of maturity from heart failure or another organ failure. Since his crop was empty, he may have been kept from food and water by the other rooster or chickens. This can be common with young cockerels. But he also could have had coccidiosis or another intestinal problem. A necropsy performed by the state vet or poultry lab might find a cause, or you could open him up and look at his organs yourself. Look at the inside of the crop and gizzard, intestines, the liver, heart, and abdomen. Take pictures. I have lost birds over the years during the night and found them under the roost in morning.

Dang I buried him in the chicken graveyard in the woods. Trash went out and didn’t want him laying in there. I’ve never seen them keep him from food. I’ll, have to keep an eye on the other ones now just in case.

 

[SashaLClay]

So sorry about your Roo. I got my first chickens in August.. and it was about 45 here too last night so I went out before coffee to check on them.
Again very sorry..

Well the only thing I can think would be heart attack but being they are all 4 months I dismissed it. So idk. I lost one of my polish to sour crop when she was about a month. Then we just go 15 silkies, a month old now, and one died at 3 days. These ones at least I know why but the Rooster I’m more confused.