Bantam with a large ear abcess

[Crazy Maizie]

@azygous @Eggcessive

So, none of the vets in this area will treat a chicken. So, I've been working on her on my own. But, I don't feel like I'm getting anywhere. The infection is coming to the surface, but there is no crust to scrape away to access the pus - no entry hole either. She's getting peroxide and antibacterial ointment. Some calendula oil to soften the ear (that's why her head feathers look a bit oily). Should I force an opening - lance or needle? I'm desperate to help her, but also a little hesitant to be more aggressive.

She's also got something going on with her crop. She had a small hard lump in the morning a few days ago. I don't know if she had this prior and I missed it or if it happened since quarantining her. I removed food for 36 hours. Treated with coconut oil and a stool softener (as recommended on other threads). It goes down as I massage it, but then is back up in the morning. Today it wasn't as hard in the morning, but the lump was there. I reintroduced very wet mash. But, she's barely eating.

I appreciate any insight.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

She's gone.

 

[Eggcessive]

I’m so sorry for your loss. The last pictures of her ear look somewhat like skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma.) It is common in chickens unfortunately. It is hard to know though since an ear infection can look so similar. A state vet necropsy could get a diagnosis.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some pictures of squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) for you to see what it looks like, although, this is no diagnosis, only a guess. There is a crater appearance that is common.
https://d3i71xaburhd42.cloudfront.net/e75a73d54abedcf1b6fe3af865727834051b870b/2-Figure2-1.png

These pictures are early skin cancers that have been found on condemned chickens at butchering:
https://sesc.cat/en/squamous-cell-carcinoma-in-laying-hens/

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I’m so sorry for your loss. The last pictures of her ear look somewhat like skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma.) It is common in chickens unfortunately. It is hard to know though since an ear infection can look so similar. A state vet necropsy could get a diagnosis.

Thank you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's gone.