Ear Infection? Canker?? HELP!

[JasDovey]

I discovered that one of my roos has a very swollen ear. He is one that doesnt like me much, so I dont handle him often and didnt notice any thing was amiss till a couple days ago. The ear canal is impacted with "Stuff" Its hard, like a marble. I was able to soften a tiny bit and pick some of it out. The gunk is dry/crumbly and yellow in color. It smells, too. While trying to get some more gunk picked out today, I saw a tiny bit of fluid come out of his ear. It was only enough to make a small wet spot, there wasnt any dripping or real drainage or anything. He doesnt seem to be in pain and he is eating and drinking normally. He doesnt have a runny nose or any congestion. He doesnt want me messing with it (he hates being handles at all), but other than that, it doesnt seem to bother him.

It seems like some kind of infection to me, but Ive never come across this before with any of my birds. What do you guys think? Infection? Canker? His mouth and nostrils are totally clear and healthy looking. Theres no avian vet near me. so Im trying to deal with this myself. What meds should I get him on? Right now Ive got his ear stuffed with neosporin, hoping to soften some of the yuck.

Sigh... its always got to be something, doesnt it? :/

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I am sorry your boy is having issues. Hopefully someone will stop by with help.

 

[JasDovey]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I am sorry your boy is having issues. Hopefully someone will stop by with help.

Thank you! I hope so, too. Ive been a lurker here for many years, but this is the first time Ive come up against something Im unsure about :/

 

[TwoCrows]

Bump.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I discovered that one of my roos has a very swollen ear. He is one that doesnt like me much, so I dont handle him often and didnt notice any thing was amiss till a couple days ago. The ear canal is impacted with "Stuff" Its hard, like a marble. I was able to soften a tiny bit and pick some of it out. The gunk is dry/crumbly and yellow in color. It smells, too. While trying to get some more gunk picked out today, I saw a tiny bit of fluid come out of his ear. It was only enough to make a small wet spot, there wasnt any dripping or real drainage or anything. He doesnt seem to be in pain and he is eating and drinking normally. He doesnt have a runny nose or any congestion. He doesnt want me messing with it (he hates being handles at all), but other than that, it doesnt seem to bother him.

It seems like some kind of infection to me, but Ive never come across this before with any of my birds. What do you guys think? Infection? Canker? His mouth and nostrils are totally clear and healthy looking. Theres no avian vet near me. so Im trying to deal with this myself. What meds should I get him on? Right now Ive got his ear stuffed with neosporin, hoping to soften some of the yuck.

Sigh... its always got to be something, doesnt it? :/

Hi @JasDovey

Welcome To BYC

It looks like your rooster has an ear infection. Trying to get the pus out is a good idea. You can also put a couple of drop of Hydrogen Peroxide in the ear to see if that will help soften the "gunk". From your description of what you are getting out of it - it is pus - chicken pus is usually a semi-hard cheesy like substance. You may also have some success by placing a warm compress on the ear to help get that loosened up.

You may need to repeat the cleaning until all the pus is out. Putting the neosporin in will hopefully help. There can be several causes of ear infection - respiratory illness, a tiny peck/wound, ear mites and occasionally something has entered the ear like debris or even a tick.

See if you can get it cleared up with the course of treatment you are doing now. If it doesn't get better or he seems to become ill, then you can try antibiotics. Injectable Tylan50 can be given orally or as an injection. Dosage is 1cc per 5lbs of weight. Some people split the dosage a.m. and p.m. Even if you do end up needing to use antibiotics, the ear won't completely heal unless you get the pus (hardened gunk) out.

Offer him some poultry vitamins in his water and give him some extra protein like egg or tuna.

Keep us posted.

EAR INFECTIONS
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/919235/ear-infection-in-rooster
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/831156/really-nasty-ear-infection-in-a-silkie-hen-graphic-pics

 

[JasDovey]

Hi @JasDovey

Welcome To BYC

It looks like your rooster has an ear infection. Trying to get the pus out is a good idea. You can also put a couple of drop of Hydrogen Peroxide in the ear to see if that will help soften the "gunk". From your description of what you are getting out of it - it is pus - chicken pus is usually a semi-hard cheesy like substance. You may also have some success by placing a warm compress on the ear to help get that loosened up.

You may need to repeat the cleaning until all the pus is out. Putting the neosporin in will hopefully help. There can be several causes of ear infection - respiratory illness, a tiny peck/wound, ear mites and occasionally something has entered the ear like debris or even a tick.

See if you can get it cleared up with the course of treatment you are doing now. If it doesn't get better or he seems to become ill, then you can try antibiotics. Injectable Tylan50 can be given orally or as an injection. Dosage is 1cc per 5lbs of weight. Some people split the dosage a.m. and p.m. Even if you do end up needing to use antibiotics, the ear won't completely heal unless you get the pus (hardened gunk) out.

Offer him some poultry vitamins in his water and give him some extra protein like egg or tuna.

Keep us posted.

EAR INFECTIONS
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/919235/ear-infection-in-rooster
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/831156/really-nasty-ear-infection-in-a-silkie-hen-graphic-pics

THANK YOU.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with Wyorp Rock. Amoxicillin may also be good to use as an antibiotic for an ear infection. A friendly regular vet may also prescribe one.

 

[cherieangelle]

Bump! I’m currently dealing with the same issue but my chicken eye was closed shut with gunk. I put Terramycin in her eye and am planning to now give her Tylan tomorrow as soon as I wake up! I am worried it is somehow a canker that spread to her ear so I’ll be double checking for that too!