Only Roosters dying (died)

[blackstone]

I was down to 3 roosters and after today it looks like none.

All my hens are healthy and content.
So far.

About 3 weeks ago, one of the roosters looked lethargic and would barely move.
Eventually, he just laid down and slowly died.
Several days ago, another one.
I noticed he came down and sat in the yard. After a while he did get up but he moved like an old man. Then he just laid down and slowly died.

This morning the last rooster has something. I went to feed and let the chickens out. He was laying on one side with one leg sticking straight out.
When I picked him up, he protested but just laid on his side when I put him back down.

There is no sign of attack.

These guys were one year old.

I have looked at the Mareks info here.
In some ways, it looks like it could be Mareks but others don't

Age. These birds are a year old or more.
Source of the disease. No new birds have been brought here in 3 or 4 years.
All were hatched here.

Only roosters affected so far.

As I think back, a few months back I had another one that showed the same symptoms.

Any info would be appreciated

 

[casportpony]

Good point Kathy.
It's best to be prepared. Overwhelmed by the deaths can preclude one taking appropriate action.

What I've been thinking abount doing is compiling a list of States and what they charge for necropsies. States like CA and TN are free, and I think MD is under $10... Sigh, so many projects, so little time.

-Kathy

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Research shows that roosters fed layer feed die at 4 times the rate of hens. Because they don't appear ill and all of a sudden die, people don't make the connection to feed.
Urolithiasis and gout are the biggest problems but excess calcium deposited in other organs can be a problem too.
If you'd like to see it, I can post the various research articles showing the danger to roosters.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I had one done in MO recently that was $55. It was a complete gross necropsy and histologic exam. Worth it to find the bird had cancer and no threat to the other birds.
The university has an extensive list of charges based on what they do so it can vary greatly.

I'm so glad I took the ill bird right to them rather than prophylactically medicating. It was a 300 mile round trip.

 

[forgetful]

Maybe you could do a biopsy? See if there's anything abnormal going on? Where did your chickens come from? Were they bought, or have they been on your property for a while? It may be something genetic.

 

[blackstone]

This is a 3rd generation that I hatched here, forgetful.
Haven't had any hatchery birds in 4 years, I think..

I certainly don't know the answer but it doesn't seem as though it would be genetic.
Birds are one year old and 4 roosters only over several months.
At first, it could have been fighting although there was no apparent sign of that.
But the last one was all by himself; the last roo.

 

[forgetful]

I suggested genetic because I recall someone's too dying and them finding an enlarged heart to be the cause, and also because it is only happening to the males of your line. I have very little knowledge on genetics, but I thought something similar could be occurring in your males. Absolutely no hens have died?

 

[blackstone]

Only roosters so far.

I was really surprised this morning

The roo had gotten himself out of the chicken fence and came 20 feet towards the house and had perked up quite a bit.

This may be a brief reprieve.
I don't know

 

[ladycat]

I was down to 3 roosters and after today it looks like none.

All my hens are healthy and content.
So far.

About 3 weeks ago, one of the roosters looked lethargic and would barely move.
Eventually, he just laid down and slowly died.
Several days ago, another one.
I noticed he came down and sat in the yard. After a while he did get up but he moved like an old man. Then he just laid down and slowly died.

This morning the last rooster has something. I went to feed and let the chickens out. He was laying on one side with one leg sticking straight out.
When I picked him up, he protested but just laid on his side when I put him back down.

There is no sign of attack.

These guys were one year old.

I have looked at the Mareks info here.
In some ways, it looks like it could be Mareks but others don't

Age. These birds are a year old or more.
Source of the disease. No new birds have been brought here in 3 or 4 years.
All were hatched here.

Only roosters affected so far.

As I think back, a few months back I had another one that showed the same symptoms.

Any info would be appreciated

I answered your question in the original forum you posted in. You didn't mention here that they are broilers, and people need to know that to answer properly.

 

[blackstone]

Sorry, I asked this question several places where I mentioned Slow Whites.
Thanks for pointing that out.
I'll be more diligent next time