Confused…warning this is a bit lengthy

[Goldsgirl9]

About a month to a month and a half ago I heard one my hens wheezing. She was eating and acting normal but wheezing. I told my husband we needed to quarantine her, although we didn’t have a place do it, but he disagreed and said she was fine. Fast forward a couple days and she was worse. I was going to cull her but the neighbor took her to try and save her. 2-3 weeks later she came home and was still wheezing but not in horrible condition. A couple days later multiple hens and my rooster became sick. One by one with symptoms ranging from listlessness, swollen eye, sneezing, wheezing etc.

Fast forward to today and just about everyone is 100% minus one pullet & cockerel. My rooster can crow, I don’t hear any wheezing, no swollen eyes either. My question is, is this normal? Do flocks get sick and then recover? I haven’t been eating the eggs so I’m wondering when those would be considered okay to start eating again?

My chickens free range and sadly I have no bio security. Ducks, iguanas and birds frequent their are so I don’t know if they picked something up from a wild animal. Is it worth taking one to the vet now to see what they could have had?
This is a first for us and there aren’t many avian vets in the area but we always try and treat holistically first anyway.
Any insight is welcomed.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Sounds like a respiratory issue went through your flock. Chickens can get over it with no treatment. Wild birds definitely carry diseases.
You could take one to the vet to see what is going on - it wouldn't hurt, but you might not get a full diagnosis depending on the vet and their experience with chickens.
I'm not sure about eating the eggs, I've never had an issue where the whole flock became sick. But, if they are over it, I would assume the eggs are safe.

 

[azygous]

Your flock may have had a common respiratory illness called Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Chickens often recover on their own without an antibiotic. The problem is that it may recur when your chickens face stress of some kind. Next time, it could be worse. It would be wise to obtain some Tylan 50 to keep on hand if they get sick again so you won't have any deaths if you have any serious cases.