Chicken Earlobe??

[likkatron]

I have a blue barnevelder pullet, about 5-6 months old. We had them outside today and when we went to put them back I noticed something dramatically different about her.

Before -

After-



I have another barnevleder pullet the same age, and this has not happened to her. Is this normal? I know that their earlobes should show, but the whole dang thing popped out.

My other Barnevelder pullet -


I don't know if I should be worried or not, or if I sound stupid. But it's such a drastic change, and looks unnatural.

 

[RodNTN]

Is she acting normal? Any changes in behavior?

 

[likkatron]

She's perfectly calm and acting normal to me, interacting with others and everything. We had them outside for about 3 hours (watching them the whole time) and I didn't notice her earlobe was like this until we put her back. I was looking around the web and apparently chickens can get swollen earlobes and it could be an infection and a number of things, what should I do??

 

[likkatron]

Also, forgot to add that it's on both ears not one.

 

[RodNTN]

Did she do anything unusual while you were watching her range?

 

[RodNTN]

Did another chicken peck her earlobes or something?

 

[likkatron]

No chickens have been pecking at her earlobes, at least not that I can see, and they were all just running around and eating their food and water. Playing in the grass/wood chips/dirt.
I tried touching it and it's very soft like my roosters earlobe, not chunky or anything. Only problem is that it's pale in color, doesn't have the correct shape at all, and it's huge.
Do you think it's an infection, or normal? Any suggestions like calling my vet? It could be contagious...

 

[RodNTN]

I read that it could be an infection, but I don't know because this has never happened to my chickens.

 

[RodNTN]

I hope it swells down, is it hot where you live? Someone said that their chickens swollen earlobes swelled down after they put some cool water on the chickens earlobes, hope this helps!

 

[Eggcessive]

Check her ears with some QTips to see if there are mites or gunk in the ears. Is she shaking her head or scratching at her ears? Does she have any signs of respiratory infection, such as sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, or gasping? Her eyes look a little puffy--do they seem that way to you?