Help!! Pecked head/swollen ear??

[missdelia]

This is my “little blue” . 2 d ago got pecked (we assume- not witnessed..) happened before several months ago and seemed like she was ok with flock - also able to fly out/free range of needing to...found her in the evening with her head essentially scalped...dark from blue kite/shiny from bacitracin...the area below her eye is now squishy..like an abscess (I am MD) but not sure if that is her ear??!?? We don’t have chicken vet nearby. She is very subdued- won’t eat anything but is drinking on her own today- I gave her poultry drench last 2 days- what should I do?? Put needle in it to drain or just leave it??!??! All advice and feedback appreciated!!!

 

[Eggcessive]

That swollen area looks like her ear lobe. Can you see anything inside the ear hole? It may just be swollen, and may go down in a few days. A vet might prescribe meloxicam for inflammation and pain. I would keep her separated inside a wire dog crate with food and water, but she probably needs to stay with her flock in the crate until she heals. The wounds can be cleaned with chlorhexidene 2% and water, then keep the wounds covered with plain antibiotic ointment. To tempt her to eat, I would try wet chicken feed, scrambled egg, and tuna, and some like canned cat food.

 

[missdelia]

That swollen area looks like her ear lobe. Can you see anything inside the ear hole? It may just be swollen, and may go down in a few days. A vet might prescribe meloxicam for inflammation and pain. I would keep her separated inside a wire dog crate with food and water, but she probably needs to stay with her flock in the crate until she heals. The wounds can be cleaned with chlorhexidene 2% and water, then keep the wounds covered with plain antibiotic ointment. To tempt her to eat, I would try wet chicken feed, scrambled egg, and tuna, and some like canned cat food.

That’s really helpful! I can’t see inside her ear hole at all...just this swollen blob...I have her in a crate inside for now...I think the flock actually stresses her more...she’s been a loner since the first time she got attacked. I am trying to give her yogurt which she will usually eat but she won’t take it- even off my hand. I guess I will try a little scrambled egg. Should I clean it everyday? I used diluted betadeine last night...I wish I hadn’t sprayed it with blue kote the first night but she didn’t seem sick at all...just injured. Now she seems traumatized or sick...which is why I am worried about an infection.

 

[Eggcessive]

I haven’t done this but some people make tiny little food balls out of feed, water, and egg, and place them inside the beak. Hopefully, she will since that you are trying to help her. When I had a sick chicken who could not get to food or water, I put egg, wet feed, canned cat food or tuna, and cottage cheese in a small cereal bowl and held it up to her beak. She would peck for awhile, taking a little of each and then stop. There are a few videos online of feeding sick chickens that may help.

 

[missdelia]

I haven’t done this but some people make tiny little food balls out of feed, water, and egg, and place them inside the beak. Hopefully, she will since that you are trying to help her. When I had a sick chicken who could not get to food or water, I put egg, wet feed, canned cat food or tuna, and cottage cheese in a small cereal bowl and held it up to her beak. She would peck for awhile, taking a little of each and then stop. There are a few videos online of feeding sick chickens that may help.

she just won't eat anything...I gave her a bit more poultry drench. is it possibly that the swollen lobe is making it hard for her to eat? or probably just the trauma of the experience? thanks

 

[Eggcessive]

She probably cannot see well, and she is probably in some pain. I would keep trying, and fluids are more important. She can do without food, but not water. Add water to feed.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Crop Feeding

I just wanted to share this with you in case it's needed. I wish your beautiful bird the very best. She's a pretty girl

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Is she a Dutch Bantam? Or what breed is she? It looks like her ear canal is possibly above the swollen area, but I'm sure you're better able to tell. No idea why she was attacked before? Did she suffer any injuries then? Did the swelling just start? I'm by no means more knowledgeable than the advice you've already received, so I'm just curious about these things. I sure hope she recovers very soon

 

[missdelia]

She probably cannot see well, and she is probably in some pain. I would keep trying, and fluids are more important. She can do without food, but not water. Add water to feed.

Good to know. I was wondering if she would be ok without food- she did drink well earlier in the day and I syringed some water into her last night...

 

[missdelia]

Is she a Dutch Bantam? Or what breed is she? It looks like her ear canal is possibly above the swollen area, but I'm sure you're better able to tell. No idea why she was attacked before? Did she suffer any injuries then? Did the swelling just start? I'm by no means more knowledgeable than the advice you've already received, so I'm just curious about these things. I sure hope she recovers very soon

I do think based on what eggsessive said that it is her ear lobe...I am not sure what is going on with her ear...can’t really see it but that part of her head is swollen too. There is a post from August (not sure how to link..) that shows the pics from the first time- it was AWFUL . She completely recovered and I don’t think she ever seemed so lethargic but I am probably just forgetting. She is one of 2 of her breed- not sure which breed though because we ordered blue marans but they just started laying and the egggs are white. She is half the size of the other hen so I assume she is a runt and that’s probably why they go after her?? Not sure what happened this time..the first time was when we first started trying to integrate and she managed to get in with the big hens but couldn’t get out. I don’t post much so I think if you just under my name you can see the other post.