- Oct 8, 2010
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Hi,
I'm not sure this is really what is going on but it looks like it.
I have a 3 1/2 month old pullet/chick that has had swelling around the ear. Its been going on since she first hatched. Its off and on and usually it goes away by itself and is not very large, but just today I noticed it is very swollen. I did not notice this yesterday at all which makes me think it sprung up over night. I did some searching on this site and the internet about it and found some advice about how to go about getting the gunk out- if there was gunk- all I see is a big lump- so when I took a closer look I noticed there was no ear hole. There appeared to be something like what should be the ear opening, so I used hydrogen peroxide on the surface of it just in case it was 'glued' shut by pus or gunk or something, but nothing changed. It really looks like there is no ear canal.
I'm kind of at a loss at what to do now. I can tell it is effecting her. She seems a bit weak. She seems skinny to me as well, as do all of her fellow hatch mates and their mother hen who is just now starting to wean them off her assistance. She also doesn't appear to be swallowing very well and when I open her mouth (which she lets me do without a struggle) there is stringy saliva as if she is dehydrated. She seems a bit tipsy on her feet. The swelling is not mushy. It is hard.
Anyone ever seen this in their chickens before? Any suggestions?
I'm not sure this is really what is going on but it looks like it.
I have a 3 1/2 month old pullet/chick that has had swelling around the ear. Its been going on since she first hatched. Its off and on and usually it goes away by itself and is not very large, but just today I noticed it is very swollen. I did not notice this yesterday at all which makes me think it sprung up over night. I did some searching on this site and the internet about it and found some advice about how to go about getting the gunk out- if there was gunk- all I see is a big lump- so when I took a closer look I noticed there was no ear hole. There appeared to be something like what should be the ear opening, so I used hydrogen peroxide on the surface of it just in case it was 'glued' shut by pus or gunk or something, but nothing changed. It really looks like there is no ear canal.
I'm kind of at a loss at what to do now. I can tell it is effecting her. She seems a bit weak. She seems skinny to me as well, as do all of her fellow hatch mates and their mother hen who is just now starting to wean them off her assistance. She also doesn't appear to be swallowing very well and when I open her mouth (which she lets me do without a struggle) there is stringy saliva as if she is dehydrated. She seems a bit tipsy on her feet. The swelling is not mushy. It is hard.
Anyone ever seen this in their chickens before? Any suggestions?