Sudden death of year old rooster

[Ecarroll]

Today I had all my chickens locked up in their run (often I free range if I’m home) and I was letting the littles (4 week olds) run around with the rest of my flock. I went inside for 1 hour maybe 2 hours, and when I come back out to check on the chicks, my silkie rooster was dead in the middle of the run! When I flipped him over to check for injuries a small amount of brown liquid came out of his mouth. He had no injuries, and all the hens seemed fine and normal. I let all the hens out to free range and put the chicks back in their outdoor brooder. He was young, only a year old, and seemed healthy earlier this morning. Any thoughts on what could have caused this?

 

[Ecarroll]

I am worried this could be contagious (whatever it is) and possibly harm my hens, the chicks or myself.

If not contagious I wonder if it could be genetic, and my chicks hatched from eggs fertilized by him could be at risk.

 

[Rock17]

@Wyorp Rock @sourland @aart @Eggcessive

 

[Barnette]

Is his face supposed to be purple or is that discoloration from something?

 

[Rock17]

Is his face supposed to be purple or is that discoloration from something?

Silkies are melanistic (the opposite of albino) so their skin, organs and bones are black grey and purple. They also have bright turquoise earlobes

 

[Barnette]

Silkies are melanistic (the opposite of albino) so their skin, organs and bones are black grey and purple. They also have bright turquoise earlobes

Interesting! Didn't know that

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. The best way to get a diagnosis is to send the body in to your state vet lab for a necropsy. They can test for Mareks and various diseases. Here is a list of state vets to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[Ecarroll]

Silkies are melanistic (the opposite of albino) so their skin, organs and bones are black grey and purple. They also have bright turquoise earlobes

Yeah he has always looked like that

 

[GlicksChicks]

Is it possible that he could've died from sour crop? The liquid coming out of his mouth sounds like the liquid that comes out when you induce vomiting on a chicken.

Did the liquid have a smell? When it is sour crop, the liquid smells like soured chicken food.

 

[Ecarroll]

Is it possible that he could've died from sour crop? The liquid coming out of his mouth sounds like the liquid that comes out when you induce vomiting on a chicken.

Did the liquid have a smell? When it is sour crop, the liquid smells like soured chicken food.

I did not smell it.