Swollen spot behind/below the ear?

[VlkStinu]

Hi there! One of my ex-battery hens has this swollen bulging spot right behind/below her ear... The skin is poking out of the feathers and creates this small bulge. Thing is, I don't think it was there yesterday, definitely haven't noticed it and I always inspect all my hens up close every day. At first, I thought it has something to do with her finishing molting and now color returns back to her face, comb, and wattles, so these parts become somewhat larger and swollen. But this looks like something else... Should I be worried? I can post a picture in the afternoon after I will go to the run.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos?

Have you looked inside her ear to make sure there's no infection?

 

[VlkStinu]

Can you post some photos?

Have you looked inside her ear to make sure there's no infection?

I will inspect her ears and will try and take a picture!

 

[VlkStinu]

I have a vet appointment in a few minutes, so I will consider taking her with me...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a vet appointment in a few minutes, so I will consider taking her with me...

Not a bad idea. Hopefully your vet can take a look.
Keep us posted.

 

[VlkStinu]

Not a bad idea. Hopefully your vet can take a look.
Keep us posted.

So in the end, I didn't take her. It was a judgment based on the inspection - the area is not really swollen as I thought in the morning, more like enlarged and flaccid, soft on touch (the skin is kind of loosened up there, like an empty blister but the skin is regular looking, not-blister like and not red, normal light color). I looked in the ear and touched it and she didn't seem to mind, so it didn't strike me as infected. But it is weird because it's only on one side of her head. I consulted the problem with the vet and he said I should watch it and if it becomes worse, I should bring her around. I think it was a better decision rather than stress her out with the transportation and the whole vet visit. I will watch it closely and if it will worsen in any way, I will bring her to the vet.

 

[VlkStinu]

So I managed to snap a few pictures today - hopefully, it will be enough to determine what it is? As you can see, it's enlarged, only on one side of her head and it's soft on touch... Doesn't seem to bother her when I touch it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm not sure what would cause that. You may want to look inside her beak just to make sure there's no canker and take a peak inside her ear for infection.

 

[VlkStinu]

I'm not sure what would cause that. You may want to look inside her beak just to make sure there's no canker and take a peak inside her ear for infection.

Thank you - I did that the last time actually and there didn't seem to be anything in there. And it really doesn't look infected or inflamed, so it's strange... It's this soft, saggy skin that just hangs in there like this.