Injured ear

[DrFeathers]

Just got back from a week long family vacation last night, a neighbor was checking on the girls for us while away. No drama reported.

Today we noticed this girl who is low on pecking order with what looks like a torn ear? Seems to be scabbed over in black across the ripped part so maybe a few days old at this point. No obvious signs of infection. My inclination is to do nothing at this point but my wife says ask the eggsperts so here I am.

I have antibiotic ointment and stiptic powder but both seem a little past the point now.

Her good side for comparison:

 

[black_dove2]

Ouch! You think it's well along in healing ointment is no longer necessary?

I'm very new to chickens, so new I've fortunately haven't had any experience in treating illness or injury.

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

I am not a vet but I have had chickens for years and this is my opinion:

I would say make sure the wound is gently cleaned and then apply some antibiotic wound ointment or Vetericyn. It does not look like it is showing signs of infection so she should be fine. However, keep an eye on it in case it becomes really red/swollen or is not healing.

I would advise watching the other chickens to because If she is being picked on by her roomies a lot, you may have to intervene.

Hope this helps.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I have antibiotic ointment and stiptic powder but both seem a little past the point now.

View attachment 1128040 View attachment 1128041 View attachment 1128043

Her good side for comparison:
View attachment 1128044

The little tuft of fluff is her ear. The injury seems to be mostly below her ear lobe. That is a really funny place for a hen or rooster to first attack, so I am guessing that she either injured herself on the wire in the coop or there is a slight chance that she had an excellent adventure with a predator.

 

[DrFeathers]

The little tuft of fluff is her ear. The injury seems to be mostly below her ear lobe. That is a really funny place for a hen or rooster to first attack, so I am guessing that she either injured herself on the wire in the coop or there is a slight chance that she had an excellent adventure with a predator.

Yes, it was hard to show it well but the bottom part of her ear lobe is ripped open and hanging down from the rest of the ear lobe. There is dark scab covering the two edges of the wound.

Thank you for the insight about the location of the wound - same bird panicked from a loud noise and crashed into the hardware cloth about a month ago and chipped off the outer portion of her upper beak. You can sort of see it in pics above growing in like after a toenail falls off. Anyway it would make sense for this to be a self-inflicted wound in this particular bird.