What is this on my chicken? All 3 of my chickens have this in the same spot but I don't know what it

[katethefish191]

What is that? Its like right above her tail and all 3 of my chickens have it, one is a amber link (pictured) an easter egger and a isa brown.

 

[sourland]

It is their oil gland or preen gland. They will rub their beak on the gland and then groom their feathers.

 

[katethefish191]

OMG! THANK YOU SO MUCH! These are my first chickens and i wasnt sure what it was, i was worried it was an ingrown feather or an infection or something! Lol! it always looked like they were trying to itch it or pick at it and whenever i saw them do it id get really worried and check for mites or lice, im so glad i can relax lol

 

[sourland]

Relax and enjoy your birds.

 

[Cacique500]

Hehe...yep...definitely an oil gland. One of the things we most enjoy is when they rub their head on their oil gland while preening...just really funny and cute when they do it!

(You know I was just dying to say it was a chicken nipple...

)

 

[aart]

I'm glad you asked and provided such a good pic......remember one person tried to pull it off before asking.

 

[sourland]

I'm glad you asked and provided such a good pic......remember one person tried to pull it off before asking.

I remember that.

 

[BantyChooks]

eek!!! katethefish191..... good job asking first and really nice pic!! It does look a little weird when you first see it, i did quite a bit of reaserch when I first got chickens before deciding it was ok.
sourland.....wow I should have signed up a long time ago... I completely missed that.