4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[redhotchick]

Bella my Blackrock has a lump at the place where the bottom of her back joins the start of her tailfeathers. I examined it tonight and it is where some new feathers are coming through. The reason I noticed it was because she was fluffing her feathers up and craning round to peck at it, or look at it at least.

It's maybe half the diameter of a pencil, and 4 or 5 mm long (guessing)

Is it normal?

[CockADoodleDoo]

i saw literaly exactal the same thing on my black rock yesterday and yes dont worry it is where a new tail feather is growing

[redhotchick]

Thanks CockADoodleDo!

[feemcg]

It's not where a new tail feather is growing, it's the preen gland - you'll notice your chook preening herself and either touching the little stump with her beak or rubbing the side of her face on it. She then uses the oils to 'condition' her feathers.

It's quite alarming when you see it for the 1st time and think it's some kind of growth - but don't worry, it's supposed to be there

Edited April 9, 2008 by Guest

[Egluntyne]

Someone asked this very question only yesterday!

[redhotchick]

Well I never! I haven't heard of a preen gland. I'm going to have to look that up! Thanks Fee

[mayflower]

That is so interesting and good news. I thought my Lucy....who is doing sooo well was developing a tumour!!! I had already made up my mind not to do anything about it because she is enjoying life. Now I can relax!

[CockADoodleDoo]

oh it must have been a diffrent place on mine then because i saw a feather growing out of mine

[Trixabell]

Gwyn has two pinky white lumps on her neck, they both have little white heads on them, the vet didn't seem to know what they are but they don't cause her pain (i pressed them) and they aren't getting any bigger, i'm wondering if they are like ingrowing follicles??

[redhotchick]

Hello CockADoodleDo, My Bella's has the beginning of feathers growing out of it too. I've googled "preen gland", nothing conclusive. Has anyone got a photo to see what it looks like? I'll try and take a picture of Bella's lump tomorrow. (Unless it'd disappeared since I last looked!)

Trixabell - It does remind me of an in-grown follicle, but out not in, if you see what I mean. picture needed I think!

[Fuoleum]

The bit you are seeing is a 'preen gland' (aka 'Parson's Nose'). Wikipedia says:

 

'Pygostyle refers to a number of the final few caudal vertebrae fused into a single ossification, supporting the tail feathers and musculature. In modern birds, the rectrices attach to these.

 

The pygostyle is the main component of the structure colloquially known as Pope's nose, parson's nose or sultan's nose. This is the fleshy protuberance visible at the posterior end of a bird (most commonly a chicken or turkey) that has been dressed for cooking. It has a swollen appearance because it also contains the uropygial gland that produces preen oil. Some people consider it to be a sweet and tender delicacy when cooked, whilst others might consider it rather greasy.'

[Egluntyne]

 

The pygostyle is the main component of the structure colloquially known as Pope's nose, parson's nose or sultan's nose. This is the fleshy protuberance visible at the posterior end of a bird (most commonly a chicken or turkey) that has been dressed for cooking. It has a swollen appearance because it also contains the uropygial gland that produces preen oil. Some people consider it to be a sweet and tender delicacy when cooked, whilst others might consider it rather greasy.'[/i]

 

Sounds delicious!

[superjules]

Whenever I've seen them they look like cut off paintbrushes.

[feemcg]

The preen gland and 'parson's nose' are 2 completely different things. The preen gland is as I described it earlier

 

"The uropygial gland, or, more informally, the preen gland is a gland found in the large majority of birds that secretes an oil (preen oil) that birds use for preening. The chief compounds of preen oil are diester waxes called uropygiols.

 

The gland is found near the base of the tail and is shaped into two symmetric parts. The oil of each part of the gland is secreted through the surface of the skin through a grease nipple-like nub. A bird will typically transfer this oil to its feathers by rubbing its head against the oil and then around the rest of the body. Tailward areas are usually preened utilizing the beak."

 

The 'parson's nose' is the tail area of a dressed bird.

[Egluntyne]

My girls preen glands are definitely nowhere near their parsons noses.

[Tina C]

This came up at my hen party on Saturday.

 

I had not heard of it before but I must admit it seemed to make sense to me that it is what is known as the parsons nose.

 

I am a veggie though so am no longer familiar with the delights of a chicken as meat

[feemcg]

Thank goodness, Egluntine, I'd be worried if they were

[redhotchick]

I'll have a look to see if it is still there. I know what the parsons nose is, I'm not convinced that what I've seen is a preen gland though. A photo would describe it much better! I'll try and post something later in the week.

Thanks for all the input!

[feemcg]

Some of my tiny chicks even hatch with their preen gland showing through their wet feathers - it's quite cute

[Wingnut]

I'm so glad it's only a gland. Noticed it for the first time this afternoon, when checking our new hatchlings (3 so far, & think they're all female). The broody (Sparkle) was 'pecking' at this lump and then 'preening' the new chicks. My son wondered if it might be a nipple about to produce milk