Is this an ingrown feather or something else?

[flappergirlsmom]

After giving my girl Peaches a bum
bath a few days ago, I noticed something kinda odd-looking on her skin just under her vent. See photo (vent censored for privacy reasons haha). Is this thing an ingrown feather? The reason I gave her a bath was to clean her dirty backside, and inspect for possible vent infection. She has also had trouble laying an egg the day before, audibly clucking in discomfort every time she bore down to push the egg, although perhaps the egg was a little on the larger side. Her vent looks fine to me but then I saw this thing. I’m wondering if it could be causing her pain or discomfort during laying. Or maybe it’s nothing...? I’m pretty inexperienced and actually just learned that ingrown feathers are a thing that can happen. All I know is that if I had one right on my bum, I’d be pretty grumpy! Let me know what you think, thank you!

 

[Genevieve Automaton]

I don't think that is an ingrown feather. It looks like a new feather that has pushed though the skin and is in the process of growing. I've seen a few of these on my hen, Mischief, in pretty much the same area around her vent. Just monitor it for the time being.