Respiratory Infection in Chickens: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

A chicken that is wheezing, rattling, or gasping for air is a serious situation that needs immediate attention. Respiratory infections spread quickly through a flock, can be difficult to fully eliminate once established, and in some cases will kill birds within days if left untreated. Knowing the symptoms, causes, and treatment options can be the difference between losing one bird and losing your entire flock.

This guide covers the most common types of respiratory infection in chickens, how to identify what you are dealing with, and your treatment options. For a broader overview of chicken illness signs, see our guide on how to tell if your chicken is sick.

Symptoms of Respiratory Infection in Chickens

Respiratory infections in chickens share a core set of symptoms regardless of the specific cause. Learn to recognize these signs so you can act quickly:

• Wheezing or rattling breath — Audible abnormal sounds during breathing, often more noticeable at night when the coop is quiet
• Nasal discharge — Clear, white, or colored discharge from the nostrils; sometimes bubbling
• Eye discharge or swelling — Watery eyes, foamy or cloudy discharge, or swollen sinuses around the eyes
• Coughing or sneezing — Repeated sneezing, especially wet sneezing that sprays discharge
• Head shaking — Birds shaking their heads to clear discharge from sinuses
• Gasping — Mouth breathing or visible stretching of the neck to breathe; indicates a serious airway obstruction
• Lethargy and reduced appetite — Sick birds separate from the flock, stand fluffed up, and eat and drink less
• Reduced egg production — A sick hen will stop laying or lay poor-quality eggs during illness

The severity and combination of symptoms can help narrow down the cause, though a veterinary diagnosis (or necropsy in severe cases) is the only way to confirm the specific pathogen involved.

Common Causes of Respiratory Infection in Chickens

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) — Chronic Respiratory Disease

MG is the most common cause of chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in backyard flocks. It is a bacterial infection that spreads through direct contact, respiratory droplets, and through hatching eggs (vertically from infected hens to chicks). Symptoms are typically mild to moderate and include rattling, sneezing, and eye discharge. MG is highly contagious and once established in a flock, it is extremely difficult to fully eliminate. Infected birds often become permanent carriers and can spread the disease even when they appear healthy.

Treatment: Antibiotics (Tylosin/Tylan, Oxytetracycline, or Doxycycline) can suppress symptoms and reduce spread but typically do not eliminate MG from the flock. Many keepers manage MG-positive flocks for years with intermittent treatment as needed.

Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV)

Infectious Bronchitis is a highly contagious viral respiratory disease. It spreads through the air and through contact with infected birds, equipment, or clothing. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, rattling breath, and nasal discharge. IBV also affects the reproductive tract in hens — infected pullets may never lay normally, and infected layers may produce wrinkled, misshapen, or thin-shelled eggs for weeks or permanently.

Treatment: Supportive care only — antibiotics do not work against viral infections. Keep birds warm, ensure adequate nutrition and hydration, and prevent secondary bacterial infections. Most birds recover within 3-4 weeks; some effects on laying may be permanent. Vaccination is available and widely recommended for flocks at risk.

Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT)

ILT is a herpesvirus infection that attacks the larynx and trachea and causes severe respiratory distress. It is one of the more dramatic respiratory diseases to witness — affected birds stretch their necks, gasp for air, and may cough up bloody mucus. ILT spreads through respiratory secretions, direct contact, and airborne transmission. Mortality can be high in severe outbreaks.

Treatment: Supportive care. Vaccination is available and is the primary prevention tool in areas where ILT is established. Birds that survive often become carriers.

Newcastle Disease

Newcastle Disease is a serious viral disease that can cause respiratory, neurological, and digestive symptoms. Velogenic (virulent) strains are notifiable diseases in the U.S. and many countries — meaning if you suspect Newcastle, you are legally required to report it to your state veterinarian. Symptoms include respiratory distress, watery green diarrhea, and neurological signs (twisted neck, walking in circles). There is no treatment; infected flocks are typically destroyed to prevent spread.

Treatment: Report to your state veterinarian immediately if you suspect Newcastle Disease.

Aspergillosis

Aspergillosis is a fungal respiratory infection caused by Aspergillus mold spores. It is not contagious bird-to-bird; birds contract it by inhaling spores from moldy litter, feed, or hay. Symptoms include respiratory distress, open-mouth breathing, and lethargy. Chicks are more susceptible than adults. Prevention (keeping bedding dry, replacing moldy feed, ensuring ventilation) is more effective than treatment once a bird is infected.

Infectious Coryza

Infectious Coryza is a bacterial disease caused by Avibacterium paragallinarum. It is characterized by a very foul-smelling facial swelling and nasal discharge. The distinctive smell helps differentiate it from MG. It spreads through direct contact and through water. Antibiotic treatment (Sulfonamides, Erythromycin) can be effective; survivors often become carriers.

Isolating Sick Birds: Why It Matters

The moment you notice respiratory symptoms in one bird, separate that bird from the rest of the flock. Respiratory infections spread rapidly through the air and through direct contact. A single infected bird can expose every other bird in the coop within hours.

Set up a warm, draft-free isolation area (often called a “sick bay”) away from the main coop. Separate food and water, separate tools, and change your clothes and wash your hands after handling sick birds before returning to the healthy flock. This basic biosecurity practice can prevent a single sick bird from becoming a flock-wide outbreak.

Treatment Options

For Bacterial Infections

Several over-the-counter antibiotics are available for treating bacterial respiratory disease in backyard chickens:

• Tylan (Tylosin) — Available as a water-soluble powder. Effective against MG and CRD. Follow dosage instructions carefully and observe all egg and meat withdrawal times.
• Oxytetracycline — Broad-spectrum antibiotic available as a water-soluble powder. Effective against several bacterial respiratory pathogens.
• Doxycycline — Requires a veterinary prescription in some states. Effective against MG and other bacterial respiratory diseases.

Important: Antibiotic use in laying hens requires an egg withdrawal period — do not eat eggs from treated birds for the period specified on the product label. Most water-soluble antibiotics require 0-7 day egg withdrawal periods depending on the product.

For Viral Infections

Antibiotics do not work against viruses. Supportive care is the primary intervention:

• Keep birds warm and draft-free
• Ensure they are eating and drinking — add electrolytes to water if birds are not drinking well
• Treat secondary bacterial infections if they develop
• Monitor closely for deterioration

Veterinary Care

A vet who sees poultry can run diagnostic tests to identify the specific pathogen involved, which allows more targeted treatment. If you are losing birds rapidly or cannot identify the cause, a vet visit is worth the cost. State agricultural labs also offer low-cost or free disease testing for backyard poultry in many states — contact your state department of agriculture.

Prevention: The Most Effective Strategy

Preventing respiratory infection is far easier than treating it once it is established in your flock:

• Practice biosecurity. Do not introduce new birds without quarantining them for 30 days. Most flock outbreaks begin with a bird purchased from a swap, fair, or another keeper.
• Maintain good ventilation. Ammonia buildup from droppings is a primary respiratory irritant. A well-ventilated coop dramatically reduces respiratory disease risk.
• Keep the coop dry. Moisture promotes mold growth (Aspergillosis risk) and provides an environment where bacterial pathogens thrive.
• Vaccinate where appropriate. Vaccines for IB, ILT, and Newcastle Disease are available. Talk to an avian vet or your state agricultural extension office about what is appropriate for your region.
• Source from reputable hatcheries. NPIP-certified (National Poultry Improvement Plan) hatcheries test for certain diseases including Pullorum and Typhoid. This does not guarantee disease-free birds but substantially reduces risk.

For more information on Marek’s Disease — another common and serious chicken disease — see our guide on Marek’s disease in chickens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can respiratory infections in chickens spread to humans?

Most common chicken respiratory infections (MG, IB, ILT, CRD) are not transmissible to humans. However, some avian diseases like avian influenza (bird flu) can infect people under certain conditions. Basic hygiene — washing hands after handling birds — reduces risk from any zoonotic pathogen.

How do I know if my chicken has a respiratory infection or just dust irritation?

Occasional sneezing from dust or dry conditions is normal. Persistent sneezing, audible rattling or wheezing, nasal discharge, or eye swelling are signs of infection. If symptoms persist more than 24-48 hours or other birds start showing symptoms, treat it as a respiratory infection until proven otherwise.

Can chickens recover from respiratory infections?

Many chickens recover from bacterial respiratory infections with antibiotic treatment and supportive care. Viral infections typically resolve on their own with supportive care but may leave some birds as carriers or with permanent reproductive impacts. Severely infected birds that are not improving after treatment should be humanely euthanized to prevent continued suffering and reduce flock transmission.

Is a rattling sound always a respiratory infection?

Not always — a single bird rattling without other symptoms might have something lodged in its trachea or crop, or might have a minor irritation. But rattling combined with other symptoms (nasal discharge, eye changes, lethargy) strongly suggests respiratory infection and should be investigated and treated promptly.

How long do chickens with respiratory disease live?

This depends entirely on the specific disease, its severity, the bird’s immune status, and how quickly treatment is initiated. Some birds recover fully from respiratory infections with treatment. Others with chronic MG may live for years with occasional flare-ups. Severe viral infections like highly pathogenic Newcastle Disease are often fatal within days.

Related Articles

• Is My Chicken Sick? Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
• Marek’s Disease in Chickens
• Chicken Lice and Mites: Treatment and Prevention

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.