Do chickens get ticks?

[poultrygeist]

Our 20 week old barred rock has a small lump just ahead of her tail.

 

[LynneP]

Don't panic, it's probably the oil gland...

 

[poultrygeist]

Is that something we all have? I mean chickens.

 

[flgardengirl]

They have an oil gland at the base of thier tail. When they preen they dip thier beaks into it and distribute it along all thier feathers to keep them pretty and shiny. It also is protective.

 

[WalkingWolf]

The oil gland helps them stay warm and dry, as far as ticks, chickens eat them. I have not found one tick on my dogs since getting chickens, before it was a nightly ritual to search for ticks and that was even with treating them. The only drawback in chicken tick patrol is they must freerange to find them, and you could lose a few to predators.