Hen with issues

[chiefming]

Have a hen in trouble. She’s a bit light, possibly not eating. She may have been hurt by a fox, as I heard a few screeches in the garden a few days ago. She’s going round in circles with her head at 90%. She does have what looks like an infection around her ear. Anyone know what this might be? She’s standing alright although a little unsteady.

 

[azygous]

Have you examined her all over carefully for any wounds? If not, please do so.

Have you examined that left ear by pulling the ear flap back and looking inside the ear opening? That should tell you if this is an inner ear infection if you find it clogged with gunk or if it's confined to the outer tissue over the ear which would indicate injury.

Have you got any antibiotics on hand?

Please tell us your location, city, state, and country.

 

[chiefming]

Have you examined her all over carefully for any wounds? If not, please do so.

Have you examined that left ear by pulling the ear flap back and looking inside the ear opening? That should tell you if this is an inner ear infection if you find it clogged with gunk or if it's confined to the outer tissue over the ear which would indicate injury.

Have you got any antibiotics on hand?

Please tell us your location, city, state, and country.

Thank you for your reply. I live in the UK in Birmingham.

I’m out at the moment and daylight saving time is on (doh!). So by the time I make it home it will be dark. I’m looking for a quick fix, although a local pet supplies store might be open. Would cider vinegar or olive oil help until I get some antibiotic? Which one do I think I might need? I’m also thinkinking I’ll need to give her some water and maybe some mushed up feed to get her though the night? Think you

 

[azygous]

There is no quick fix. There really is nowhere to begin treating until you decide if this is an injury or inner ear infection. The tissue inflammation above the ear may be from a respiratory disease of from an infected wound from the fox attack.

An inner ear infection requires cleaning out the ear and packing it with an antibacterial ointment. An outer tissue wound would require wound treatment.

Both sorts of infection would require an oral antibiotic such as Tylan or Tylosin if it's an inner ear infection and amoxicillin if it's an exterior wound, which would also require wound care.

Being in the UK, it may not be easy to obtain an oral antibiotic. But sometimes you might be able to find these meds in fish or pigeon form at pet stores.

 

[chiefming]

Can you get a wound antibacterial easily at a pet store? She is still alive thank God. I gave her some water from a syringe, to keep her going through the night. I’ll pop into a pet store in the morning.
The ear is like a hardened crust, which is obviously painful for her. So I couldn’t look inside it.
Thank you again for your advice. I’ll keep you updated.

 

[azygous]

Use whatever wound ointment or cream you use when you cut yourself. It need not say it's for pets.

Yes, her ear must be very painful. You need to hold the ear flap back and clean the ear hole out. If you are unable to bring yourself to do this, then you need to find a vet to do it.

The crust in the ear is harboring bacteria and the wound ointment will not be able to get to the infected tissue unless you pull the crust out of the ear, if I understand you that the ear hole is crusted over and not just that on the exterior above the ear. Use a match stick to dig the crust out, then clean the ear well with hydrogen peroxide. Let that drain out and then pack the ear hole with the wound ointment.

If you can find an oral antibiotic, she really could use it.

 

[chiefming]

I can see the hole. The crust is to the side. I put germolene on it this morning. She looked a bit chirpy this morning. I gave her some watered down food. I’ll have another go now before the evening.

 

[chiefming]

I had a check online for the treatments. I can see that Amazon sell something similar for respiratory diseases?

 

[azygous]

None of those products would be helpful. The only actual med is the coccidiostat Coxoid, and it only treats strains found in pigeons, not chickens. It would be useless for chickens, but your chicken probably isn't suffering from coccidiosis.

I was suggesting an antibiotic. You will probably need to go through a vet.

Your response is not clear. You located the ear hole and it is clear inside? Or is there crust blocking the hole?

Can you get a closeup of the crusty lesion next to the ear? I would like to see it more clearly.

 

[azygous]

@dawg53 please take a look at this. I'm floundering trying to communicate.