Help please!

[marulisa]

Good afternoon! We are in need of assistance since we are very new to raising backyard chickens. We got our chicks in October, started out with 10 but 1 died a month later. The rest seem to be doing well and we are looking forward to eggs this spring but 4 of our chickens are displaying this white crust (see picture attached) near their ears and we have NO idea what it is. Is this an ear infection or some other disease? We've isolated them from the rest but don't know what to do next. Should we take them to a vet? Please tell us if you know what this is and what you think we should do. Much appreciated, thank you!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Are you talking about the white earlobe? Different breeds have different colored ear lobes. The color doesn't finalize until maturity. I zoomed into the photo and didn't see any "white crust."

LofMc

 

[Obsessed With Silkies]

Agreed. That just looks like their earlobe. Nothing to worry about at all!

 

[marulisa]

Are you talking about the white earlobe? Different breeds have different colored ear lobes. The color doesn't finalize until maturity. I zoomed into the photo and didn't see any "white crust."

LofMc

Thank you! Yes, that's what I'm referring to. It used to be red and now it's white. That's why I thought it could be an ear infection. They are only about 4 1/2 months old so still growing. Would it be normal for it to change color like that as they get older?

 

[marulisa]

Agreed. That just looks like their earlobe. Nothing to worry about at all!

Thank you! We are like first time parents!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Thank you! Yes, that's what I'm referring to. It used to be red and now it's white. That's why I thought it could be an ear infection. They are only about 4 1/2 months old so still growing. Would it be normal for it to change color like that as they get older?

Different breeds mature differently, but most chicks just have downy ears. When they molt in as a junior adult, the earlobes will often be revealed. Pale pink can turn to white on the earlobe. They probably were always a bit lighter, but you just didn't notice.

Yep. White earlobes. And they look to be Cream Legbars (or mixes)?

I follow those white earlobes in my breeding program to see where my Cream Legbar blood went to (as well as the crest) in my olive egger program.

Happy eggs soon
LofMc