respiratory issue/egg laying

[mandmcar]

hello,
we have 10 chickens and they got a respiratory infection (started with one, we did separate but they all got it). we treated with 1/2 cc tylan injections for 5 days and they all got better and have been back to normal since then (last injection was 11 days ago). none of them have laid an egg since we started tylan. they are molting also, so im sure that has an impact, but NO eggs? i looked around and there are none hidden anywhere. 4 are 1.5 years old and the rest are 6 months old and havent started laying yet. thoughts? also, ive read conflicting info on respiratory issues with chickens with some saying you should kill any hen that has it, that future birds can catch it...is that true?

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds possibly like infectious bronchitis, a virus that lasts about a month. It can cause a decrease in laying, and sometimes may cause wrinkly egg shells, watery whites of eggs, and later some egg shell problems. They can remain carriers for up to a year with IB, so best not to hatch or add chickens for that long. At 18 months they can be starting to molt as well, so that could be a reason they are not laying, especially if you are seeing feathers in the coop. Younger pullets can have more laying problems with IB. I would not cull the flock, but just try to get everyone healthy. Hoepfully, they will start laying again once illness or molting is not a problem. Good luck.