[Caramelle]

Hello everyone!

We've just picked up our three new ladies, but I'm having a bit of a panic! One of the girls has a really odd lump. It's on her back side, where the tail feathers are (or should be!) and it's about 1/2 inch high. Really! Not wide as in swollen, but a really odd, sharp lump. It's clearly bothering her as she's scratching it constantly, but it's not red or anything like that. Just an incredibly localised, insanely high lump!!

Can anyone shed some light on this please? And what on earth can we do! Will post pics as soon as hubby is able to take one. They are hiding in an awkward position at the mo!

Lots of love

[OpiumEater]

it's a gland that produces oil which they rub against and then rub on their feathers. I only saw Alices' clearly as she had lost all her feathers after the fox attack and it doesn't half look weird, but perfectly normal.

[joyfull]

yes it does sound like their preen gland 

[Caramelle]

Looked at some pictures and this is indeed exactly what it is! Doesn't half look odd - does it!!! As mentioned earlier it is pink, not red or funny coloured at all. So we were extra confused!! But yes I'm convinced it's absolutely fine. The behaviour matches up too, of rubbing head on it and then rubbing it over the rest of her body

[curries]

I had the same shock myself the other day with my broody who has lost a lot of feathers, I checked one of my other girls and found the same so thought it must be normal 

[OpiumEater]

I had chickens as a kid, but never noticed the gland before so had a right fright when I first saw it  But learning fast