Sudden Rooster Death

[2150MormonRd]

Hello All,

I am heartbroken. This morning, my 8 month old Shetland roo came out of the run just fine. He was eating scratch like the others on this frosty cold morning. He has been perfectly healthy, eating, mating, being a sweet boy. He crowed this morning same as usual. But I noticed he had a little squeak a few times, the way the hens will squeak when they have something in their crop askew. He was eating no problem and active. Ten minutes later, he was down in the sun with the girls, and i see this flopping. I ran down and he was rolling around and then by the time, I touched him he was gone. Did he have a heart attack? What happened??? He was warm, active...I'm so heartbroken.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So sorry. It can be hard to say why he died. Usually when it's quick like at it's a heart attack, fatty liver, choking, or a broken neck.

Do you feed a lot of scratch? Fatty treats can lead to fatty liver. I found out the hard way feeding too many black oil sunflower seeds as a treat.

 

[2150MormonRd]

No, only a little scratch when its cold, mainly corn. They are on organic feed. Pasture and alfalfa.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

No, only a little scratch when its cold, mainly corn. They are on organic feed. Pasture and alfalfa.

Unfortunately sometimes chickens do just die for no apparent reason. Sounds like there's nothing you could have done to prevent it.

 

[triciayoung]

@2150MormonRd. Most importantly, I am so sorry you lost your boy. It is devastating to lose our family members. What food you feed your boy and your flock has absolutely NOTHING to do with his passing. There is no clinical evidence about percentage of treats, what is considered a treat, etc..., please ignore any advice otherwise. Next, chickens do NOT die for no apparent reason...there is always a reason. The only definitive way to know why he passed is to get a necropsy, but I would not advise it. The State labs have to right to test for everything. You know him best. I have heard a squeak in one of my roosters before, and it ended up being a respiratory infection. It could be that he had one and ended up suffocating with mucous. Of course, this is just a theory based on what you said. It is always more difficult when it happens fast when you see them acting normally. I know you are so sad right now and wish I could make it better for you. I know the feeling far too well, I have a rescue. My suggestion is that you just give great big hugs to the rest of the flock. They are probably mourning as well.

 

[McChooky]

I also suspect the squeaking or wheezing was a sign of a restricted airway. When a chicken gets sick they will try to hide it from the flock.Without other signs of illness its impossible to come to any other conclusions but theres no way to confirmit it without sending him off for testing .I'm sorry for your loss and hope you'll keep us updated in case any of your other chickens get sick.

 

[2150MormonRd]

Checked on the girls this morning and everyone is fine. He was my first rooster. I only kept him because he was a Shetland and hoped I could have some olive eggers out of him. From what I have been reading, and it was dramatic and sudden, it sounds like a cardiac event. I have video of him hatching and then pics from early November. Roger was a beautiful very stoic boy. He came out of the Greenfire Farm line. I know its early for chicks, but I thought to set the incubator tomorrow as there may be a chance for a chick or two from him. Its worth a go. Thanks all.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Chickens can and do die from an improper diet or an overload of treats. I definitely am not saying that is what happened here, but it's important that people understand the reason to limit some treats in their chickens diet to avoid problems, especially those kept in confinement.

 

[triciayoung]

Chickens can and do die from an improper diet or an overload of treats. I definitely am not saying that is what happened here, but it's important that people understand the reason to limit some treats in their chickens diet to avoid problems, especially those kept in confinement.

View attachment 4286902

You are using the Merck Manual out of context. In fact, MOST cases of hemorrhagic liver disease is not fatty liver. I will get the most up to date information and post it here.