Sneezing/wheezing chicken

[samack]

One of my hens (1.5 yrs old) is sneezing and wheezing and not laying eggs, but otherwise seems normal. She hasn't always been the friendliest hen and seems to stay away from the other 9 hens. She has been "sick" for over a month but hasn't died and I have not treated her for anything. Question: can I still eat the eggs of my "healthy" hens? I am still getting about 6 eggs a day from the flock. Another question: any ideas as to what is wrong with my hen?! Gapeworm? I haven't checked her throat...we live on the Oregon Coast, and the hens are free range in our backyard.

 

[Judy]

It doesnt sound like gapeworm, which actually doesn't happen often. You can swab her throat with a Qtip if she has gapeworm and you should see the worm, thin and red, on the Qtip. Gapeworm is often rapidly fatal. She could have one of the respiratory diseases that chickens get, but chances are the whole flock has it if this is the case. She might also just be having trouble dealing with the dust that chickens put out, and maybe have something stuck that is causing the wheezing, or maye a fungus These are just guesses, of course.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...w-soon-can-you-eat-the-eggs/0_20#post_9670372

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...try-often-mistaken-for-crd-mycoplasmosis/0_20