Hens with what I assume have an upper resperatory infection, or maybe the flu

[mrgreenjeans53]

I have 4 hens that are wheezing and gurgling. There were 6 but 2 have died. What could the problem be and how do I care for them to get them well?

They are still laying eggs because I am getting the same amount of eggs every day, minus the eggs from the 2 hens that have died. If they have an upper resperatory infection, which I suspect, are their eggs still safe to eat? I give family members eggs every week. I don't want my family to get sick from eating the eggs if they aren't safe.

Thanks for any advise you can give me.

 

[SkyWarrior]

If your chickens are sick, you should either have a vet take a look at them, or treat them with an antibiotic.

I can't advise you whether the eggs are completely safe, without knowing what the chickens have. My guess is that the eggs are probably okay, but if you start treatment, you need to hold off eating eggs for seven days after the last treatment.

 

[speckledhen]

If they are wheezing and gurgling, they probably have one of the common respiratory diseases called CRD/Mycoplasmosis or Infectious Bronchitis, which leaves them carriers and will come back again in times of stress.

If it's a virus, antibiotics will do nothing. If it is bacterial, antibiotics may alleviate the symptoms, but will not change the carrier "Typhoid Mary" status of the birds. This is why most knowledgeable chicken keepers cull affected birds, never treat.

If you treat with antibiotics, the recommended withdrawal is usually two to three weeks. Some more powerful ones have a 4 week withdrawal period where you don't eat the eggs and neither do the birds.