Mycoplasma gallisepticum
Chronic bacterial infection causes sneezing, foamy eye discharge, and lifelong flock carrier status after introduction of infected birds.
Chicken Condition
Chicken Respiratory Infection — Online Vet Help
Respiratory infections spread fast through flocks. Get an expert same-day assessment from an avian-experienced vet and treatment guidance for your chickens.
Licensed Vets
$65 Flat Fee
Same-Day Rx
24/7 Access
Avian respiratory disease
Expert flock respiratory care from avian vets
Mycoplasma vs. infectious bronchitis vs. Newcastle symptom triage
Antibiotic selection — Tylosin and Oxytetracycline guidance with withdrawal times
Flock isolation and biosecurity protocol
Coop ventilation and ammonia reduction coaching
Egg withdrawal period counseling when medicating laying hens
Reportable disease escalation for high-mortality outbreaks
Respiratory disease spreads rapidly through backyard flocks — wheezing, rattling breath, nasal discharge, and dropped egg production signal Mycoplasma, infectious bronchitis, or secondary bacterial invasion. Poor coop ventilation and stress amplify outbreaks.
Avian-experienced TelaVets vets assess bird posture, breathing effort, and flock attack rate on video — prescribing antibiotics with proper egg withdrawal guidance while identifying when reportable diseases need state veterinary involvement.
Common signs of chicken respiratory infection we can help with
- Wheezing or rattling breath
- Nasal discharge
- Coughing or sneezing
- Swollen sinuses
- Reduced egg production
- Lethargy
- Open-mouth breathing
- Head shaking
What causes chicken respiratory infection?
Respiratory signs in one bird mean test and treat the flock — isolation alone rarely contains airborne spread.
Viral pathogens
Infectious bronchitis virus and Newcastle disease vary in severity — some strains cause high mortality requiring official reporting.
Environmental ammonia
Built-up droppings release ammonia damaging tracheal lining — predisposing birds to secondary E. coli pneumonia.
How our vets diagnose it online
Backyard flock telehealth balances antibiotic stewardship with egg safety and biosecurity education.
- Count affected birds and mortality rate over past 72 hours
- Assess open-mouth breathing, neck stretching, and wing droop
- Review new bird introductions and show or swap meet exposure
- Evaluate coop airflow, litter depth, and ammonia smell at floor level
- Outline necropsy and lab submission when sudden multiple deaths occur
Treatments we may prescribe
Treatment includes flock-appropriate antibiotics with documented egg withdrawal, coop ventilation fixes, and isolation of severely affected birds.
Antibiotics (Tylosin, Oxytetracycline)
Supportive care
Isolation of affected birds
Ventilation improvement
Vaccination review
Nutritional support
All medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate by a licensed veterinarian and dispensed through our FDA-compliant pharmacy.
Keeping flock airways healthy
Quarantine new birds six weeks before flock integration.
Maintain dry litter and ventilation — ammonia breaks respiratory defenses.
Vaccinate against Newcastle and bronchitis where regional risk warrants.
Limit flock exposure to wild birds and shared equipment at swaps.
Cull or permanently isolate chronic Mycoplasma carriers when flock health cannot stabilize.
Why pet parents choose TelaVets
Licensed DVMs Only
Every consultation is with a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine — not a chatbot or technician.
$65 Flat Fee
One transparent price covers your full video consultation and treatment plan. No facility fees or surprise charges.
Same-Day Appointments
Most flock owners are connected with a vet within 1–3 hours of booking, 7 days a week.
Next-Day Prescriptions
When medication is appropriate, prescriptions are issued same-day and delivered to your door next business day.
Avian-Experienced Vets
Our vets have experience with backyard chickens and flock health — rare among telemedicine platforms.
Secure & Private
Encrypted video calls and HIPAA-compliant records keep your pet's health information protected.
How TelaVets works
Book your consultation
Pick a same-day or upcoming slot — appointments available 7 days a week.
Connect with a licensed vet
Your vet assesses your pet via secure video, asks detailed questions, and reviews their history.
Get your treatment plan
Receive a diagnosis, personalised care plan, and same-day prescriptions delivered next-day.
What Our Pet Parents Say
Join thousands of happy pet parents who trust TelaVets for their furry family members care
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
Related resources
Helpful reading and services from the TelaVets team.
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Read moreHow TelaVets Works
Learn how our licensed vets diagnose and treat pets via secure video consultation.
Read moreChicken Treatment Hub
Backyard chicken health topics — respiratory, parasites, egg issues, and more.
Read moreChicken Wellness
Preventive care and flock health guidance from avian-experienced vets.
Read moreExplore related care
Licensed TelaVets vets treat a wide range of conditions online.
Frequently asked questions about chicken respiratory infection
Yes. Our licensed vets can assess symptoms of respiratory infection via video consultation, review your chicken's history, and provide a clinical assessment with a treatment plan.
Treatment depends on severity and cause. Our vets will create a personalised plan which may include prescription medications, dietary changes, or at-home care instructions.
Same-day appointments are usually available. Most pet owners are seen within 1–3 hours of booking.
Yes. If medication is clinically appropriate, our licensed vets can issue prescriptions same-day, with next-day delivery to your door.
If your chicken shows severe distress, inability to breathe, uncontrolled bleeding, or sudden collapse, seek emergency in-person care immediately. For other concerning symptoms, an online consultation is an excellent first step.
Get expert help for your chicken's respiratory infection today
Same-day appointments — $65 flat fee — licensed vets