Double uropygial gland?

[AinaWGSD]

We culled some extra cockerels this weekend. Out of 14 birds, 13 had a double or bifurcated uropygial gland. Does anyone know how common this is?

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I think this trait is more common than a lot of people think, honestly. Supposedly it's controlled by one of a hand full of genes that can impact the morphology of the uropygial gland, but my experience with it has been that it's not inherited as simply as I would expect for a monogenic trait. I've seen it in birds of several unrelated origins, including Easter-eggers, Silkie mixes, and my silkied Cochin bantams.

The Cochin bantams I work with actually mostly don't have a uropygial gland present at all, but the few that do have one generally have doubled or bifurcated glands like this. Interestingly enough, they still reach at the base of their tails when preening whether they have the gland or not

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Is this the oil gland for preening?

 

[AinaWGSD]

Is this the oil gland for preening?

Yes, I just like to use big words

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yes, I just like to use big words

I do too, thanks for adding to my sesquipidalian vocabulary!