Sudden death!

[Sarree]

My half cornish and white rock rooster suddenly died last night. He had no symptoms and seemed perfectly healthy. what could it have been? Do I need to worry about all my other chickens?

Please advise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sarree

 

[CarriBrown]

It's hard to say unless you have a necropsy done. I have had chickens drop dead for what seemed like no reason, but a necrospy showed a birth defect (like heart attack, etc).
I'm sorry about your loss.

For now, I would just keep an eye on everyone else, and really think back and see if you can remember any strange behavior in your rooster.

 

[dlhunicorn]

that type of breed is prone to pulmonary insufficiency... it is called "flip-over" commonly and probably was a heart attack.

 

[Sarree]

Could it have been Mereks disease? I read that sometimes has no symptoms, if so should I be treating my other chicks?

Sarree

 

[SpottedCrow]

There's nothing you can do for Mareks...It's a virus. You can make them comfortable, but not much more...

Cornish/rock crosses grow so fast that their organs just give up on em...
I'm sorry you lost him.

 

[MissPrissy]

C ornish x Rock is a meat bird. Simple stresses can cause them to die without warning. They are not genetically made to live long lives. Meat birds are usually processed at 8 - 10 weeks. Commerical breeds of the same type are usually processed for the grocery store at 5 - 6 weeks. The chickens you see in the grocery stores aren't even 2 months old for the most part. I would have to say your rooster died of a common heart attack brought on by the stress of simply living.

 

[Sarree]

Thanks everyone, I'm just glad he didn't have to suffer.

Sarree