Hen with swollen ear lobe and blood/discharge

[Oliviahens]

UPDATE!

She seems to still be acting normal BUT her wound had grown and is very hard. She got into the main coop and did get pecked at again, and the scab got taken off. I feel terrible I let her back in there, it happened right away and I grabbed her immediately. We cleaned her again, and tried to squeeze anything out and we did scoop out some cottage cheese like substance. This must be a cyst? How do we help her??

 

[Oliviahens]

Hi! I have a sweet hen I found with this swollen ear lobe. I am unsure what caused it and am looking for some treatment help. I noticed the other hens have been pecking at her and now have her separated. She is acting fine but I want to make sure she recovers. Any advice for me??? I noticed it a few days ago

Welcome To BYC

Looks like a cut or gash, probably from a piece of wire, a staple or fencing.

It's not uncommon for other hens to pick at injuries, the blood attracts them.

I'd clean the cut/wound with saline or chlorhexidine. Be sure to look under her neck to see if the wound is under there too. If necessary, trim feathers away from the wound.

Apply triple antibiotic ointment to the wound.

She may need to be separate for a day or two depending on how the wound is healing as not to attract the other from investingating.

View attachment 3920851

I just posted an update, is there any more advice you can provide?

 

[Oliviahens]

Yes keep spraying Vetericyn, also, try and figure out wich one is bullying her for future note. Also check your other hens to make sure they dont have any wounds... It seems she was pecked on, monitor, but she should heal fine. If for any reason you need to put her back. Spray Blu-kote on it so they dont peck her.

I just posted an update, is there any more advice you can provide?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

UPDATE!

She seems to still be acting normal BUT her wound had grown and is very hard. She got into the main coop and did get pecked at again, and the scab got taken off. I feel terrible I let her back in there, it happened right away and I grabbed her immediately. We cleaned her again, and tried to squeeze anything out and we did scoop out some cottage cheese like substance. This must be a cyst? How do we help her??View attachment 3921964View attachment 3921965

Chicken pus is firm like you describe, the wound has pus in it.

Clean it out using Chlorhexidine. Once all the pus is removed, apply triple antibiotic ointment.

 

[Themellowyellows]

UPDATE!

She seems to still be acting normal BUT her wound had grown and is very hard. She got into the main coop and did get pecked at again, and the scab got taken off. I feel terrible I let her back in there, it happened right away and I grabbed her immediately. We cleaned her again, and tried to squeeze anything out and we did scoop out some cottage cheese like substance. This must be a cyst? How do we help her??View attachment 3921964View attachment 3921965

Spray blue-kote next time, they cant see wounds with that on. Put tripple antibotic on it (without pain killer! Pain killer is toxic to them) the cottage cheese stuff is probably a cyst. Is she still able to hear on that ear? Snap next to that ear or make a clucking noise and see if she responds in any way. Not sure what the hard part is although, it could be that there is more of the cottage cheese stuff in there. Is there more? After you got that out did it feel/look softer?

 

[Oliviahens]

Spray blue-kote next time, they cant see wounds with that on. Put tripple antibotic on it (without pain killer! Pain killer is toxic to them) the cottage cheese stuff is probably a cyst. Is she still able to hear on that ear? Snap next to that ear or make a clucking noise and see if she responds in any way. Not sure what the hard part is although, it could be that there is more of the cottage cheese stuff in there. Is there more? After you got that out did it feel/look softer?

I only got a little out that was by the opening but I didn’t know if how to do it properly or if I should be digging it out… I didn’t notice it get softer. I only got a little out since I had to use a tweezers to pull some out.

 

[Oliviahens]

Chicken pus is firm like you describe, the wound has pus in it.

Clean it out using Chlorhexidine. Once all the pus is removed, apply triple antibiotic ointment.

How do I get it all out? I used a tweezers and pulled some but then I didn’t know what I was doing and stopped because I didn’t want to make things worse…. I have been using vetercyn on it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I only got a little out that was by the opening but I didn’t know if how to do it properly or if I should be digging it out… I didn’t notice it get softer. I only got a little out since I had to use a tweezers to pull some out.

How do I get it all out? I used a tweezers and pulled some but then I didn’t know what I was doing and stopped because I didn’t want to make things worse…. I have been using vetercyn on it.

You may have to open the scab up a bit more to push and press the pus out. See if the scab will come off and you can squeeze it, if not, then lance it just a little bit to get the pus out.

Chicken pus is like cottage cheese, like a semi-soft cheese, it's from the wound, not a cyst.

I would not use BluKote, it makes it very hard to access a wound.
Vetericyn is o.k., but if I were going be treating pus/a wound or lancing a wound, I would use Chlorhexidine.

It currently looks like the Earlobe is affected, so unlikely that the hen has any ear infection or loss of hearing.

 

[Oliviahens]

You may have to open the scab up a bit more to push and press the pus out. See if the scab will come off and you can squeeze it, if not, then lance it just a little bit to get the pus out.

Chicken pus is like cottage cheese, like a semi-soft cheese, it's from the wound, not a cyst.

I would not use BluKote, it makes it very hard to access a wound.
Vetericyn is o.k., but if I were going be treating pus/a wound or lancing a wound, I would use Chlorhexidine.

It currently looks like the Earlobe is affected, so unlikely that the hen has any ear infection or loss of hearing.

This is what was pulled out now. Now this doesn’t look like puss and I couldn’t squeeze anything. Cyst?

 

[Themellowyellows]

This is what was pulled out now. Now this doesn’t look like puss and I couldn’t squeeze anything. Cyst?

Ill let someone else respond no clue what that is.