Peeling skin on face and ear

[Annapaz]

Hi everyone, my silky girl seems to have something going on and I was wondering if anyone is familiar with what this may be? Please see photo attached.
I’ve checked her over for mites and lice and haven’t found anything. She’s been broody the past two weeks but I’ve been taking her out of the coup and she does eat and drink daily. No other symptoms like sneezing, etc. Just the peeling face with what looks to me like a possible infection around her ear?

 

[Mvan42]

Could it be a broody thing? I don’t know anything about silks. If it appears to be infected put antibiotic ointment on it until someone else responds to help. Careful around the eye.

 

[Annapaz]

Thanks, I did consider putting some triple ab ointment on her just in case. Haven’t yet though. We have 3 Silkies and none of them have ever presented with this condition during their broody times, which is often. Appreciate your input!

 

[DobieLover]

View attachment 1927894 Hi everyone, my silky girl seems to have something going on and I was wondering if anyone is familiar with what this may be? Please see photo attached.
I’ve checked her over for mites and lice and haven’t found anything. She’s been broody the past two weeks but I’ve been taking her out of the coup and she does eat and drink daily. No other symptoms like sneezing, etc. Just the peeling face with what looks to me like a possible infection around her ear?

This looks like the fungal infection, Favus. It can be treated with any anti-fungal cream like clotrimazole, miconazole, tolnaftate, etc. and can be transmitted to you so wearing gloves is a good idea.
I would apply the anti-fungal cream twice daily for a week until the infection clears up.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It's hard to see her ear. Can you get a photo with more lighting?
Look in the ear, that crusty material looks like infection. I would clear away all the debris, crustiness from the face and ear, if there's more gunk in the ear, apply 1 drop of Peroxide to help loosen that up and remove it.
What does the other side look like and does she have any mucous or yellow patches inside the beak?
What do you feed?

 

[Annapaz]

Thanks everyone. I wanted to give her another thorough check for lice or mites. I put on a dark colored shirt thinking perhaps that’s why I’m missing seeing them as her coloring could be perfect camouflage. Poor girls eyes were sealed shut from crud today. Left and right side of face are similar. Sure enough I couldnt find anything on her, but spotted a couple on my dark shirt.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks everyone. I wanted to give her another thorough check for lice or mites. I put on a dark colored shirt thinking perhaps that’s why I’m missing seeing them as her coloring could be perfect camouflage. Poor girls eyes were sealed shut from crud today. Left and right side of face are similar. Sure enough I couldnt find anything on her, but spotted a couple on my dark shirt.

What about the ear? Is that crud in there too?
An eye that is closed with crud, that would be discharge coming from somewhere.

It's hard to see her ear. Can you get a photo with more lighting?
Look in the ear, that crusty material looks like infection. I would clear away all the debris, crustiness from the face and ear, if there's more gunk in the ear, apply 1 drop of Peroxide to help loosen that up and remove it.
What does the other side look like and does she have any mucous or yellow patches inside the beak?
What do you feed?
View attachment 1928129

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like eye drainage that has crusted on the face, possibly from a respiratory infection such as MG. I would clean off the face with warm water, and use some Terramycin eye ointment or plain Neosporin ointment in the eye twice a day. If you are seeing respiratory symptoms, then consider using Tylan (tylosin) in the water for 5 days. Here is a link for it:
https://www.jedds.com/shop/tylan-soluble-100-g/

 

[Annapaz]

Thank you. I will check it out. I brightened the photo so it’s easier to see her ear. I did of course immediately warm wash her face this am so she could open her eyes. And I did apply Neosporin to her ear and face. When I returned from work the “crud” seems to be coming from the eyes. But I imagine it must be from the ears as well as there’s no real wetness to either. Just crusty mucous build up. Seems like an upper respiratory infection for sure, like you mentioned. But can that come from mites? I’m guessing in my layman experience it’s just a coincidence that I found mites? I also cleaned out the entire coup and then treated it and my sick silky with food grade diatomaceous earth.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you are seeing mites, you would need to get some permethrin 10 or the garden powder. DE can be a bit dangerous to breathe and get into eyes, and although it is widely recommended especially in the UK where people cannot buy permethrin, it will not treat an outbreak. Are you certain they are mites and not lice? Elector PSP is a more expensive and safe product that can be used for treating the premises, and is available online. Here is a good link to read about identification and control of lice and mites:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

When the eyes are watery and there is nasal drainage during a respiratory infection, the chicken may shake their heads to dislodge mucus from the airways, spreading it all over. Since some infections can be viral or bacterial, and there are at least 5 different diseases that are common in chickens, it would be bood to contact your state vet to ask how to get a sick chicken tested in your area. Here is a list of most state vets that you can contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm