Red earlobe turning white?

Date sort Score sort
Tala

Tala

Flock Mistress
10 Years
Apr 14, 2009
6,372
71
251
Benton (Saline County) AR
I thought I'd gone crazy! I noticed today that one of my Cuckoo Marans girls suddenly has white earlobes!!!
Upon closer inspection, they are still red around the edges, but turning white from the center outwards (if you think of it as a circle, kinda) but I didn't get a decent picture.
Any ideas to throw around? Fungus? Her comb and stuff look fine so I wouldn't think frostbite on the side of her head.
I'll be off again tomorrow so I'll be looking again. She's acting fine and I guess still laying brown eggs (I know it wouldn't change lol) I got one Cuckoo egg today, and 2 yesterday (from 2 girls) so I think she's still laying pretty normal.
 
60309_ear_lobe_question.jpg
 
Last edited:
Here she is, hard to get her close and still enough for good detail. Also seems like her hackle feathers are looking a bit whiter around the edges too. Weird

IMG00800-20110216-1534.jpg

IMG00801-20110216-1535.jpg

IMG00799-20110216-1534.jpg
 
Last edited:
I had hens doing the same thing.....then the white spots started getting crusty.....then it spread down the neck and they lost a lot of feathers and some spread to the comb and the back of the head and they are now balding....I thought the same as you at first...now i am fighting a fungal infection named favus in my 29 chickens......keep a close eye on them.....I would treat with micozonal cream just in case to sorta nip it in the bud if it is favus

But I am new to chickens I may be wrong altogether...
 
Hello, my ex-battery is exhibiting the same - but no crustiness, just a change in colour. Just can't get close enough to rub at it, don't want to stress her though obviously I will if I have to. Did you ever get to the bottom of this? Mine only has a bit in the centre of each ear but appears to be in rampant good health. I know this is an old thread but just hoping to get some answers, can't find anything online - they aren't spots, just looks like she's got yoghurt smeared on them! (she hasn't). They (ears) look glossy and shiny otherwise, no dryness obvious. Thanks.
 
Ladies in Red said:
Hello, my ex-battery is exhibiting the same - but no crustiness, just a change in colour. Just can't get close enough to rub at it, don't want to stress her though obviously I will if I have to. Did you ever get to the bottom of this? Mine only has a bit in the centre of each ear but appears to be in rampant good health. I know this is an old thread but just hoping to get some answers, can't find anything online - they aren't spots, just looks like she's got yoghurt smeared on them! (she hasn't). They (ears) look glossy and shiny otherwise, no dryness obvious. Thanks.
Click to expand...
It's probably just her coloring. If she is an ex batt, is she coming into molt?
Once you tame her and she settles in a bit, then examine the ear lobe.
 
Hello thanks for the reply. She's tame enough (I've had them a year now), just find handling them a bit stressful for all, just can't get her to keep still enough, but I can force the issue. They may be moulting, I'm getting a few feathers and the others are sprouting new feathers on the head - it's just that it's changing - would that happen (I assume she's about 2.5 years old)? If I grab her, what am I looking for? She looks absolutely fab otherwise, she was quite ill for a while a couple of months back but fully recovered.
Thanks again.
 
Ladies in Red said:
Hello thanks for the reply. She's tame enough (I've had them a year now), just find handling them a bit stressful for all, just can't get her to keep still enough, but I can force the issue. They may be moulting, I'm getting a few feathers and the others are sprouting new feathers on the head - it's just that it's changing - would that happen (I assume she's about 2.5 years old)? If I grab her, what am I looking for? She looks absolutely fab otherwise, she was quite ill for a while a couple of months back but fully recovered.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
If she's molting, then I wouldn't handle her until she's done.
If the ear lobe is dry, crusty or powdery when you examine her, then it could be something like Favus which is a fungal infection. You can dab on a little anti-fungal cream every few days.
 
OK, thank you - that's what I thought - that Favus is dry. It really does look like the first picture on here, but not dry. Can you just clarify - can the changing colour happen as they grow up - this is definitely a change in colour over the last few weeks. I'm not aware she's moulting drastically - I won't handle her if I can see new feathers, but I'll try and feel her ears ...
Thank you again! I love my girls but feel like such a newbie with them :)
 

Similar threads

Dogs Cows Chicken
Legs Turning Red
Replies
4
Views
234
Dogs Cows Chicken
Dogs Cows Chicken
Bronx girls
    • Sad
She’s not getting better with antibiotics
2 3 4
Replies
38
Views
869
Bronx girls
Bronx girls
R
    • Like
Can't identify these worms...PLEASE HELP!
2
Replies
14
Views
1K
allen wranch
allen wranch
R
    • Like
lethargic rooster | comb turning black
Replies
6
Views
1K
Debbie292d
Debbie292d
Mahdiyeh
Chikita refusing food
Replies
9
Views
222
Wyorp Rock
Wyorp Rock

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom