Sudden death - 11 week old cockerel

[Wrightsx4]

Any ideas why a seemingly healthy 11 week old cuckoo marans would die? I found my cuckoo marans cockerel dead on his back this morning. He had no sign of injury, no previous illness or symptoms. We spend a lot if time with our chicken's and didn't notice him acting abnormal yesterday. None of the others are sick. We've never had this happen before. As far as his diet goes, he was still on starter/grower and table scraps - yesterday they had leftover corn on the cob and strawberries from the garden that I didn't want (a chipmunk it rabbit had taken bites from them). I just really wonder what he died from and what to watch for with the rest of the flock.

 

[Naunnie]

So sorry for your loss. I'm not sure if this will help, but I found some information when I scrolled down to "Metabolic Diseases" http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Poultry_Health_Disease.

 

[Wrightsx4]

Thank you for that link. From reading that it seems he fit the sudden death syndrome (heart attack) criteria. I thought that only occurred in hybrid meat birds but the way I found him was exactly as described, plus he was the biggest of the 11 week old chicks.
The day only got worse - I had let the older chickens out to roam while we were all outside doing chores. Heard a commotion and realized one of our older wyandotte hens was missing. Only found a few feathers. Until today we had lost a total of one - ever, to a daytime raccoon attack. Now we lost two in one day. I'm hoping she was just scared away and will return but I doubt it. We searched for two hours. Rough day for my kids to lose both.

 

[Hooligans7]

Our 11-week old Black Copper Marans cockerel died during the night. He was found lying on his side on the floor. No signs of trauma and he seemed perfectly fine and healthy last night when we put him and his two "sisters" to bed in their very secure cage. He lived with two BCM pullets the same age and they are fine. I examined his body this morning and couldn't see anything wrong at all. What could have happened to him?

 

[Wrightsx4]

I'm sorry - sounds like yours was as mysterious of a death as mine was a few weeks ago. I still assume mine died of a heart failure. He was 11 weeks and seemed perfectly healthy prior to his death. I was worried I may lose more but it's been four weeks and no others have died. I still cringe when I open their door each morning, worried I'll find another one laying there.
I hope your pullets continue to do well