Mycoplasma infections often seem to take advantage of a weakened immune system, such as when the bird has had another infection of some sort. Often the initial respiratory infection will pass unnoticed in itself, with only the mycoplasma infections causing the visible symptoms.

A good way to check for respiratory infections is to squeeze the birds nose at the top of the nostril to see if they have mucus in them. If they have it will show . Mycoplasma infections have a nasty smell about them, a quick sniff around the birds head will give you a clue. Put your ear to the birds back and see if you can hear any rasping breathing. (A second-hand stethoscope is amazing how well you can pick up the sound of rattling lungs with it.)

The drug usually used in cases of Mycoplasma Infections for UK poultry fanciers, is Tylan. This is a prescription only drug (UK only. It is still available over the counter in the USA) It is water soluble. Make sure the birds being treated do not have access to any other water or they will drink this in preference, because Tylan is horribly bitter.

Mycoplasma are egg transmitted and carrier birds can exist within your flock without you even being aware of it. If you regularly get outbreaks I have heard that treating chicks with antibiotics in the first few days of life, can help stop it spreading amongst your flock. This is not something I have tried, I suggest you ask your vet about it, as I have no details of drugs or dosages for this type of treatment.

There are many other respiratory infections of course, but here in the UK if you have a bird with a snotty nose it often seems to turn out to be a mycoplasma infection.

Luckily for us in the UK Infectious Coryza is not common at all in this country.

If a bird is stressed during its time of having this infection, it can have otehr bad effects... click here

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