Now 3 dead Roosters in 5 days!? Don't have any idea why.

[bigal]

I came home from work today to find another dead rooster. I have no idea why. I live in Hawaii where it hasn't gotten over 85 degrees at my house. There is plenty of shade and water. I saw the last rooster to die drink this morning before I left to work. The flock is locked up tight in the coop at night and I havn't seen any marks on any of the birds. All the deaths have happened to my 14 week old RIR roosters. The hens all seem fine, and the other birds of different ages and varietys all seem fine. This evening I noticed another of the roos acting lethargic like the last one that died. I put out some new crumbles and watched him eat pretty well. I then saw him poop and it was light in color and runny. I noticed the last dead roo was pretty thin when I found him today. I have been feeding a combination of crumbles, pellets, and scratch. I also let them eat a lot of the green waste from our kitchen. There is a Mango tree that drops mangos into the run and they like to eat those. If someone has any ideas I'd love to hear them.
Mahalo,
Tim

 

[Bailey1234]

Are the roo's fighting?

 

[beefy]

are they eating layer crumbles?

 

[Bailey1234]

We have a mystery.....
I wouldn't think that the crumbles would take three in five days if they are free ranging. I'd think there is one older alpha roo that recognizes that these guys are maturing and now pose a threat. If he can prevent them from eating, chase them and flog them here and there he can eliminate the potential competition. There are no logical health problems that would only affect roos of a certain age and pass over other roos of different ages and all hens.

 

[bigal]

I don't think the roos are fighting. They were raised together and I have never seen any fighting other some normal pecking stuff. Also I've never seen any marks on any of the deceased. The whole flock is being fed a mix of "Hawaiin Grain" 20% laying pellets, Nutrena gro/fin complete, and scratch feed. Also some oyster shells. Does that sound ok?

 

[sammi]

are you mixing in the oyster shell with the feed?
it should be in separate feeder.

still seems a mystery that these roos of this age are dying which makes it plausable that fighting or bullying could be going on..
a dominant roo will bully young roos away from food and water..

check the roo's crop..at roost time it should feel full...if not full..that means he isn't eating, or not enough..
you did say the last roo was thin..
in the morning before they eat, it should feel empty..
feel for any lump, grainy feeling, or sour odor.
if you can..use a flashlight and look in the mouth and throat for any whitish or yellowy sores or plaque..(just to be on the safe side)

you said the droppings are light in color and runny..what color?

are they penned?
could they be getting into anything?

have they been wormed?
checked and treated for mites?

when does it seem they are dying?(time of day)
are they locked up at night?

for now..I'd make him up some extra protein mix..cooked egg yolk mixed with plain yogurt and feed.
try and confine him with his own food and water..
some vitamins might help too..

where in Hawaii are you?
I have a friend who lives on the big island who raises chickens..
and she is a new member here..

 

[bigal]

I didn't realize the oyster shell should be separate, Thank you. The droppings of the rooster who looked lethargic tonight were a light tan color with some darker stuff mixed in. I didn't examin it that closely. The birds are kept in a run with access to the coop full time. There is a waterer in the run and the coop. The feeder is in the run in the day and locked up in the coop at night with the birds. The coop is built tight so that not even a rat could get in but with lots of ventalation. The birds are let out to free range for a short time but only when I am around. (The nieghbors dog would love to get a hold of them.) I check them regularly for mites and have yet to see any. I found 2 of the roos dead in the morning when I let them out of the coop and the last one was fine in the morning and dead when I got home from work. I'm located on the Big Island of Hawaii on the Kona side. I'd like to hook up with any other folks raising chickens over here. I will check the crop on the birds tommorow evening and give them some of yogurt/ egg combination . I am down to 3 roosters now. The one RIR that isn't looking so well, another RIR with a gimpy leg who somehow manages to get around still, and a smaller Black star that was raised with the RIR's.
Mahalo's again for the advice.
Tim

 

[dlhunicorn]

check your area where they range for grains which may have gotten moldy (some people throw out the grains on the ground for the birds to scratch for... unwise if you do not live in dry arid environment)
you should provide a nON-layer formulation feed in a separate bowl for the boys (they will go for the non-layer feed > your girls can eat textra calcium thru the separate bowl of oyster shell if they also eat the non-layer)
I posted on your other thread about the possibility of high altitude ascites /sudden death associated with that.
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/6/ascites

http://birdflubook.com/resources/0Julian350.pdf
(scroll down to section 3.1.2)
"...At high altitude low temperature at night is also a major
contributing factor. Hypoxia (and to a lesser extent
hypoxemia) can cause pulmonary arteriolar vasoconstriction...Ascites is the most prominent result of RVF although it is not always present in broilers that die suddenly from PH."

The only way you will know what killed them is a proper necropsy.

 

[bigal]

Mahalo for everyone's input. I was happy to go out to the coop this morning and not find anymore dead roos. I took "sammi"s advice and fed some of the egg/yogurt combo and all the birds took an interest in it, especially the sickly roo. I saw another poop from the roo and it was runny, mostly darkish green with a little white. I looked up dlhunicorn information on altitude sickness but I don't think that is it since I live at around one thousand foot elevation and the temp is usually between 70 and 80 degrees. (It's nice to live in Hawaii) I will check the crops this evening and try to give some vitamins.
Mahalo,
Tim