What is that little nubbin?

[wbruder17]

I've noticed a little nubbin above my chickens tail feathers when they are preening themselves. They preen all around it and it seems they all have one. Is this a little prehistoric remnant of a tail?

 

[AZBootsie]

I think it might be an oil gland. Not sure about chickens, but some birds have glands around their tails. You see them preen the tail then spread the oil to other feathers.

 

[galanie]

Yep. It's an oil gland.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Generally known in layman's terms as the Oil Gland.

Here is an interesting read:
http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Wilson/v066n01/p0006-p0031.pdf

 

[sourland]

Oil gland!