Rooster with a possible Outer Ear Infection

[autumnbee17]

So I have a rooster, that just yesterday night 1/6/2021 when I was putting them up had something yellow on his ear features. I did not think much about it as it might be something that he picked up off of the ground. I said to myself that I would check on it in the morning if it had not disappeared. So, when I went to let him out for the day, 1/7/2021, I noticed that it was not gone and was still there. I did not like the look of it so I picked him up and noticed that is was something wrong with his ear. The features around his ear canal was hard because of the yellow "wax" that was there.

I did some quick research on it and figured out that it was an ear infection. I also figured out a way of possibly helping him out with getting rid of the "wax". I had a cup of warm water, Q-Tips, Hydrogen Proxide, and Vaseline. I first held a paper towel with warm water on him until I got settled on a bench inside my coop yard. Then I slowly grab Q-Tips with warm water and went upwards on the feathers to break the "wax" up. After I got the hard layer of "wax" off of the features (which were holding everything together), I then noticed that there was a softer "wax" underneath. I was able to clear as much of the "wax" off of the ear canal (so he might be able to hear better now) and the entrance to the ear canal was swollen (from which I think from the "wax"). I put some Hydrogen Proxide on my entrance of the ear canal and around the area to make sure I clean the area. Then I put Vaseline in the entrance of the ear canal and on the features that had the "wax" on them.

Behavior Before I Cleaned The Ear Canal: he was eating and drinking normally, he was more moody then normal (he is a super sweet boy), and he sleep more than normal (which I am now thinking that this infection might of been causing it).

Photos:
The one picture upside down is from after the cleaning of the ear; the rest are from the morning that I really noticed it.

Questions:
1. What medicine would you recommend on helping him out with the infection? (I do not have a vet in my area that knows much about chickens)
2. Will these reoccur?
3. What other ways can I help keep the ear clean?
4. How can I get the ear canal's swelling to go down?

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like you have done a good job cleaning his ear. He has an ear infection, which can be caused by mites, a virus, or a respiratory disease. Most people cannot get antibiotics that easy, but if it recurs, you might check into getting some Fish Mox amoxicillin from your feed store or online, or looking for sulfadimethoxine or bactrim for pigeons or birds. Your vet may be of help.

 

[autumnbee17]

It sounds like you have done a good job cleaning his ear. He has an ear infection, which can be caused by mites, a virus, or a respiratory disease. Most people cannot get antibiotics that easy, but if it recurs, you might check into getting some Fish Mox amoxicillin from your feed store or online, or looking for sulfadimethoxine or bactrim for pigeons or birds. Your vet may be of help.

I have heard that if there are mites, you should see small black dots within the "wax" which I did not see. I am leaning more towards virus. How long do you think I should keep this treatment up for?

 

[Eggcessive]

Vaseline will kill mites, but I would get some plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment, and use that instead in the ear canal.

 

[autumnbee17]

Vaseline will kill mites, but I would get some plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment, and use that instead in the ear canal.

The only thing I am scared about with doing it is that I push the Neosporin to far into his ear.

 

[The Brick Coop]

I had two birds with this in our history. Kept removing the plug and cleaning, but it would come back. I think it was pus from an infection. Then one day after cleaning I found and used Ear Mite lotion that is made for dogs, just one drop in the ear, and presto! No more ear goo.

 

[The Brick Coop]

Something about the special ear mite lotion must help heal the ear too. Anyway, later you can bathe all the birds with flea shampoo to get rid of the biting ectoparasites that crawl into their ears. according to directions. Dry in a warm place; while drying replace bedding & spray & air out coop. the archives are great references.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you fill the ear with the Neosporin/Triple Antibiotic Ointment from the outside it ought to be fine. It will melt with body temperature, and should cover well.

 

[theoldchick]

https://www.chickenwhisperermagazine.com/health-and-wellness/ear-canker