Kristen, you sadly had first hand experience with just what I've been trying to tell people. If I had a bird with coryza, it would be put down. I will not treat this type of disease as the birds remain carriers for life and can infect others, even when they are themselves showing no symptoms. Coryza is not the only disease that calls for such action, either, in my opinion.
People always talk about treating birds with colds, but although I realize what the general definition of a "cold" is, chickens really do not get colds, per se. I have decided that I will not treat a respiratory illness. If I have determined that it is a communicable disease, something other than a mere sinus infection, if that can even be determined by me since I cannot afford to take a chicken to a vet, the bird will be put down. Period. No treatment will be administered. Chickens cannot be treated like dogs, health-wise. They just can't. It's harsh, but it's the reality of raising chickens, even pet chickens. Others may have a different approach, but I know that many here will agree with me on this. Many birds with serious transmittable diseases are being treated with mild antibiotics when what the bird has is serious enough to be a reportable disease by law.
