HELP! BO Pullet has a bleeding ear

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Yesterday I noticed one of our 21 week old Buff Orpingtons having a bloody looking ear late afternoon. We cleaned it with fresh water, used a little peroxide and slathered it with triple antibiotic ointment. We did not remove her from the flock. At bedtime it looked like it was starting to crust up. This morning it looks bloody again. I did notice another pullet trying to peck at it, but she was also scratching at it yesterday. I was thinking we should get some Vetericyn to use instead. She is acting normal other than shaking her little head more than usual. Can anyone advise? I tried to get pics but she wasn't being to cooperative for the camera
.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

That looks like it's under the earlobe?

Could be from pecking or she may have cut it somehow.

Clean/wash it up with saline, diluted betadine or soapy water (can use dial soap). Apply some triple antibiotic ointment or Vetericyn to the wound. You can try covering it with BluKote to see if the others will leave it alone.

A bleeding open wound is just a target waiting to be picked at - so if the others don't leave her alone, she may need to be placed in a cage or kennel in the run until it scabs over - then apply BluKote and see how it goes.

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

I was gonna say BluKote as well. Doesn't sound too bad, as long as the other hens don't peck her and it stays clean.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Thank you both for your quick reply! My husband is on his way for betadine and vetericyn. Since she seems like the others won't stop pestering her, the plan is to clean/apply vetericyn and put her in our built in brooder in the coop where she will have food, water and can lay an egg if she chooses but can still see the others. Then, after it is dry enough, we'll apply the blu-kote and see about putting her down with the others. How long should it take to start scabbing over? Again, thanks so much!

 

[Kiki]

If no one picks at it it should take just a few days to scab.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you both for your quick reply! My husband is on his way for betadine and vetericyn. Since she seems like the others won't stop pestering her, the plan is to clean/apply vetericyn and put her in our built in brooder in the coop where she will have food, water and can lay an egg if she chooses but can still see the others. Then, after it is dry enough, we'll apply the blu-kote and see about putting her down with the others. How long should it take to start scabbing over? Again, thanks so much!

Great plan!

Chickens heal fairly quickly, just keep an eye on the wound to make sure flies aren't getting into it. She should scab up in a couple of days.

Keep us posted.

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

Glad to help!!

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Ok, so we went to go get her to start cleaning her up and she's decided to lay an egg! We are thinking we should let her finish in the box before we disturb her and put her through holding and cleaning... more stressful than when she hops on a lap for petting time?

 

[Kiki]

Waiting will be fine.
Let her finish.

 

[Little Coop on Salt Creek]

Just an update.. our Tulip girl is doing really good. It only took the one day of cleaning it well and waiting until it was dry, then applying a dab of blu-kote. It is healing up nicely. I think it was a pecking wound though.. many of our laying girls have little facial black marks where I think they've gotten into pecking order scraps.