Year old Rhode Island Red rooster found dead this morning.

[Petsgalore17]

We found Rou, our year-old Rhode Island Red rooster dead in his run this morning. No signs of sickness or trauma. He was fine and doing his usual crowing to greet me when I went out to check on the chickens yesterday about 4pm. Any ideas what might have happened. I have fourteen hens that he has been looking after since he was a chick. Do I need to worry about them?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Could you see any signs of trauma on his neck or wounds anywhere? He could have had a heart or other organ disease, but if you could save the body, keep it cold, you could get a necropsy by the state poultry vet. Here is the list of them including OK:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm


I usually perform home necropsies on my hens that I lose. Sometimes that can give clues to a cause of death. If you do that, take pictures of the abdominal organs and post here.