Ear infection, canker, mites or...?

[wat_da_cluck]

She was fine/normal 36 hours ago. Went to give dinner (shes been hiding in the coop) and noticed her ear is HUGE! My first reaction is it was my rooster, hes not always gentle in his love making (please note her comb) but the way its puffy certainly it is infected. I don't think its canker bc there isnt any puss/yellow. it is VERY big - way bigger than the picture looks. protrudes about a half inch, maybe more. If anything it seems inflamed/bloody. See terrible picture below. I'm going to rinse with peroxide maybe put a bit of emuaid on it. Any thoughts/recommendations? BluKot? Colloidal silver? Rest of her fine. Her ears are usually blue in center, red around.

 

[wat_da_cluck]

After peroxide - yuck
Currently very red and pussy. Poor baby! Should i keep her away from the rest of the flock tonight? Garage-quarantine?

 

[Myrshine]

It looks like an abscess from an injury like a peck or getting caught on something.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

That's her earlobe. Her actual ear canal is right above the lobe and covered with feathers for protection. I agree that it does look like an injury. If she's being pecked, then I would separate her, but if possible, still with her flock. A perfect example would be putting her in her own wire dog crate. You can put some neosporine (plain original formula as the pain relief is very harmful) on it. I wouldn't use the Peroxide any more than initial cleaning as it hinders healthy growth of new skin. She is beautiful! I wish you the very best! Good job catching that. She's a lucky girl to have someone watchful and proactive.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Please make sure there is no tick or anything. It does look like an injury like I mentioned above but let's get some experts here to get their experienced and knowledgeable input. I do worry about her hiding out behavior. Is she eating and drinking well? I'll tag some of our experts.

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive @aart @Overo Mare

 

[Myrshine]

Please make sure there is no tick or anything. It does look like an injury like I mentioned above but let's get some experts here to get their experienced and knowledgeable input. I do worry about her hiding out behavior. Is she eating and drinking well? I'll tag some of our experts.

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive @aart @Overo Mare

From the photo, it doesn't look like there's any insects currently there. Perhaps before, there could have had something like a tick bite, spider bite, etc. It looks like it's been draining with pus and needs a good cleaning, some Neosporin (without pain relief) and separation from the flock for a bit until its better.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

From the photo, it doesn't look like there's any insects currently there. Perhaps before, there could have had something like a tick bite, spider bite, etc. It looks like it's been draining with pus and needs a good cleaning, some Neosporin (without pain relief) and separation from the flock for a bit until its better.

I understand what you're saying. She is getting a first hand view whereas we're getting a picture and that's the reasoning for my comment. I also believe that it's an injury, like I stated. Thanks for the reply though.

@wat_da_cluck I hope your beauty is feeling better this morning. Is she eating and drinking ok?

 

[aart]

Keep rinsing with saline(no more hydrogen peroxide) and applying the ointment.
No need to separate unless she's getting picked on.
If a male is roughing her up, separate the male.

@wat_da_cluck
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Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
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[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, I would keep cleaning it (Chlorhexidine would be good to use) and apply triple antibiotic ointment.

As for the cause, hopefully it's just from injury. I would still look inside the ear just to make sure there's no infection in there.

 

[Eggcessive]

It seems most likely an injury from the pecking or mating of the rooster. Others may have joined in the comb and ear pecking. Sepearting for a day or so in the dog crate inside the coop would be good. If you have to separate her elesewhere, bring her out for a supervised visit or two daily and get her back in the flock. Keeping her out of the flock for too long can cause them to peck her more. I also would separate the rooster in the crate once she is back full time, to give her a break. I love having a rooster, but some can be a little rough, biting the back of the neck or comb during mating. Watch to see that he is not being agressive to her because she does not want to mate with him.