Ear Infection?

lollydolly

In the Brooder
6 Years
Apr 12, 2013
75
1
39
Hi can anyone describe to me the symptoms when a chicken gets an ear infection? I'm taking my lady to the vets on Wednesday and I'm thinking its possibly this but I'm very worried? Also what measurements of apple cider vinegar should I give her?

Thanks in advance
 
I had a rooster who had this nasty smelling solid yellow crap in his ear. I took and removed as much as I could. I then put peroxide in his ear and then drained it out. Did this a few days and he's fine now. I TBS. per gallon is what I use for ACV.
 
Is there any way I can post a pic of my chicken on here to see if anybody recognises whats going on and how to help?

Thanks
X
 
Ear infections can be caused by ear mites. Birds will scratch and shake their heads. You can see mite feces or the mites in the ear canal, looks like black pepper or blackish/reddish crud. Use an eyedropper to put a few drops of vegetable oil in the ear to smother them.
Fungus can be a problem; a tube of fungal cream will usually take care of fungus. Insert the tip of the tube gently just inside the ear canal and slowly squeeze til the ear fills up with the cream...then leave it. A Q-tip can be used but some of the cotton on the tip will have to be removed in order for Q-tip to fit inside the ear canal with the fungal cream on it... insert the Q-tip gently just inside the ear canal, do NOT insert it deep! Fungus can be greenish/moldy looking.
The most common cause of ear infections is bacteria or a respiratory infection causing bacterial infection. If there's a respiratory infection/disease, there are also other respiratory symptoms and antibiotics will be required. Keep in mind if it's a viral disease, antibiotics are useless. I normally recommend that birds with respiratory diseases be culled for the health, safety and welfare for the rest of the flock and property.
Bacterial infections usually are whittish/yellowish cheesy looking. Pre-stage everything you need before the ear cleaning procedure. Wrap the bird snugly in a towel, tie her legs together just enough to keep her from kicking and escaping, then lay her on her side.
The ear is located under a small flap covering the ear canal, it'll be a small hole. A Q-tip will fit inside the canal but you'll have to initially remove some of the cotton from the tip of the Q-tip in order for it to fit inside the ear canal. Remove as much cotton as necessary but remember that you must leave a little cotton on the tip to remove the gunk from the ear canal, you can dip the tip in water and shake it off so the gunk can adhere to the cotton before inserting it into the ear. Then gently insert the Q-tip into the canal and gently remove the gunk, most likely the gunk will come out in small chunks and will be somewhat difficult to remove. It'll be time consuming, patience is highly recommended. Make sure you have plenty of Q-tips on hand. Small tweezers can be helpful when removing larger chunks.
There might be chunks deeper in the ear canal, do NOT go after them with a Q-tip nor tweezers. Use an eyedropperful of non-diluted hydrogen peroxide and fill the ear up with it. It will bubble over and out the ear...this is normal. Have a paper towel ready to prevent any of the liquid getting into the hens eyes. Once the hydrogen peroxide has finshed bubbling, use Q-tips to clean and dry out the ear canal as best as you can...you may or may not have to remove cotton from the tip of the Q-tip to insert it into the ear, it has probably stretched enough to fit inside the ear canal. Again, be gentle and take your time, do NOT go deep into the ear canal.
Next, get your tube of neosporin ointment and gently put the tip into the ear and squeeze, filling the ear all the way up to the top with the ointment. You are finished. Then flip the bird over and do the same thing with the other ear.
Once the other ear is done, release your bird to go about her business. Then clean your mess up.
 
@dawg53
Hey. So, im gonna clean my roosters ears. He got lot of yellowish gunk in there. I had cleaned it well just with matches.
But after reading this, i should do more.


So, after gettin all yellow thing out, need to spray in a hydrogen, and clean with q-tip.
I havent watch the anatomy of chicken ear, even human, but cant i spray too far? Same with neosporin? How thick layer should i sqeeze in?
btw, he couldnt hear anything with ears full with ointment..
 
Thanks for this awesome post! I have a few questions.
How do I know if it's mites, fungus, or an infection either viral or bacterial?
I noticed one hen has a small bald spot on her head so I watched to see what's going on and she periodically scratches at it. She seems calm about it; my only clue that something is wrong is the bald spot. So I threw some scratch around my feet to lure them all in. And a few others look dingy yellowish on their heads.
Our flock is small and usually very healthy. I have a few supplies on hand, like Sevin dust and blue kote, but have never had to deal with anything too serious.
Coincidentally, my husband just mentioned the dog's ears are bothering her. Which makes me wonder if dogs & chickens can share ear mites? Could ear mites cause the chickens' heads to look dirty?
 
Thanks for this awesome post! I have a few questions.
How do I know if it's mites, fungus, or an infection either viral or bacterial?
I noticed one hen has a small bald spot on her head so I watched to see what's going on and she periodically scratches at it. She seems calm about it; my only clue that something is wrong is the bald spot. So I threw some scratch around my feet to lure them all in. And a few others look dingy yellowish on their heads.
Our flock is small and usually very healthy. I have a few supplies on hand, like Sevin dust and blue kote, but have never had to deal with anything too serious.
Coincidentally, my husband just mentioned the dog's ears are bothering her. Which makes me wonder if dogs & chickens can share ear mites? Could ear mites cause the chickens' heads to look dirty?

I would like to know as well.
 
Ear infections can be caused by ear mites. Birds will scratch and shake their heads. You can see mite feces or the mites in the ear canal, looks like black pepper or blackish/reddish crud. Use an eyedropper to put a few drops of vegetable oil in the ear to smother them.
Fungus can be a problem; a tube of fungal cream will usually take care of fungus. Insert the tip of the tube gently just inside the ear canal and slowly squeeze til the ear fills up with the cream...then leave it. A Q-tip can be used but some of the cotton on the tip will have to be removed in order for Q-tip to fit inside the ear canal with the fungal cream on it... insert the Q-tip gently just inside the ear canal, do NOT insert it deep! Fungus can be greenish/moldy looking.
The most common cause of ear infections is bacteria or a respiratory infection causing bacterial infection. If there's a respiratory infection/disease, there are also other respiratory symptoms and antibiotics will be required. Keep in mind if it's a viral disease, antibiotics are useless. I normally recommend that birds with respiratory diseases be culled for the health, safety and welfare for the rest of the flock and property.
Bacterial infections usually are whittish/yellowish cheesy looking. Pre-stage everything you need before the ear cleaning procedure. Wrap the bird snugly in a towel, tie her legs together just enough to keep her from kicking and escaping, then lay her on her side.
The ear is located under a small flap covering the ear canal, it'll be a small hole. A Q-tip will fit inside the canal but you'll have to initially remove some of the cotton from the tip of the Q-tip in order for it to fit inside the ear canal. Remove as much cotton as necessary but remember that you must leave a little cotton on the tip to remove the gunk from the ear canal, you can dip the tip in water and shake it off so the gunk can adhere to the cotton before inserting it into the ear. Then gently insert the Q-tip into the canal and gently remove the gunk, most likely the gunk will come out in small chunks and will be somewhat difficult to remove. It'll be time consuming, patience is highly recommended. Make sure you have plenty of Q-tips on hand. Small tweezers can be helpful when removing larger chunks.
There might be chunks deeper in the ear canal, do NOT go after them with a Q-tip nor tweezers. Use an eyedropperful of non-diluted hydrogen peroxide and fill the ear up with it. It will bubble over and out the ear...this is normal. Have a paper towel ready to prevent any of the liquid getting into the hens eyes. Once the hydrogen peroxide has finshed bubbling, use Q-tips to clean and dry out the ear canal as best as you can...you may or may not have to remove cotton from the tip of the Q-tip to insert it into the ear, it has probably stretched enough to fit inside the ear canal. Again, be gentle and take your time, do NOT go deep into the ear canal.
Next, get your tube of neosporin ointment and gently put the tip into the ear and squeeze, filling the ear all the way up to the top with the ointment. You are finished. Then flip the bird over and do the same thing with the other ear.
Once the other ear is done, release your bird to go about her business. Then clean your mess up.
This is extremely helpful :)
 
We are going through this right now. Head shaking, continously scratching at ears... wheezing at times. He looks like it brings discomfort. Will be giving this method a try in the morning. Its 3am and we have a chicken in our bed with us
 

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