swollen ear lobe

Date sort Score sort
Jan Dodd

Jan Dodd

In the Brooder
7 Years
Feb 23, 2012
11
0
22
Hello,

I wonder if anyone can help, please. I am a newcomer to chicken-keeping. I currently have just one hen. I've had her since November. This morning I noticed that she has what looks like a swollen gland of some sort hanging down from just behind or below her ear. I've looked through my chicken books and various diseases described on the internet, but can't find anything that sounds possible. She seems healthy otherwise, is laying every day and eating OK. Her breathing has always sounded very slightly congested, but I don't know if that's related. As I've never had a chicken before, I don't know what is normal.

Any advice you can give would be very gratefully received.

Many thanks,

Jan
 
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You came to the right place. You can start posting pictures after 5 posts. That would be best so that everyone can see what on earth that would be.

Sounds like maybe a hen ear infection? I am bumping you up to the top to see if you can get some more replies.
 
Thank you!

I've got a couple of photos I could upload. I don't know much about chickens, but is there some sort of wattle just behind the ear, because it's that sort of colour and texture but just very swollen and baggy.
 
I had the same thing happen on one of my hens. Her earlobe was the size of a pecan! I suspected she got hit in the earlobe with a football (kicked by one of my boys who didn't intend to hit the hen.) I watched it and her for two days. The other birds took no notice of it and didn't peck at it. The hen ate and acted fine. The swelling went down on it's own in a few days. Keep an eye on her for signs of ill health but otherwise just let her body take care of the problem if possible.
 
Does it feel hard? Is it like a sack? It may just be an ear infection so you might want to give her some antibiotics.

She is beautiful! You should get her a friend.
 
Many thanks for all the interest. Yes. It's like a sack, not hard. I think I'll take the photo to the vet first of all and see if they recognise what it is.

She is lovely, and did have two friends, but sadly they were both killed, one by a visiting dog (Staffordshire Bull Terrier) and I'm not sure about the other. Possibly a fox, but it left the body, so I think a dog again - we're in the middle of the countryside and lots of people hunt roundabout. But I'm getting two more hens next week. This poor thing is wandering around calling, but no one replies. It's so sad! And maybe the stress has something to do with her ailment. I want them to be free range, but if I loose any more I'll have to think about fencing them in.

Thanks again,

Jan
 
Poor Lady!!!

Thats good that you have a vet to go and ask advice too. It seems like probably just an ear infection if it is sac like. You may have to drain it, or something. Good luck! Keep us updated!
 

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