Seemingly healthy cockerel just died

[elizabethj39]

Does anyone know what would cause a 6-month-old seemingly healthy rooster to suddenly die? I was counting them before lock-up tonight and he fell off the roost and went into death throes. Lasted for less than 10 seconds and he was dead. My birds free range during the day with a supplement of 16% layer pellets in the morning. He was perfectly fine acting all of today. Running around like normal with a nice, red comb, then this. None are vaccinated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC, and sorry about losing your young cockerel. It may be common to lose birds when they become mature to some natural causes such as heart or kidney failure, but it helps to look for signs of possible problems. Feel of the crop for fullness or impaction, look at the vent and droppings for diarrhea or blood, check the breast area for weight loss, and note any nasal/eye drainage, cough or sneeze. If you refrigerate the body, you can contact your state poultry vet for a necropsy to look for a cause of death.