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

[gongladosh]

I noticed tonight that one of my hens, Kiki, seems to have been pecking herself a little bit. It's on her back between the wings near the tail feathers but nowhere near the vent.

She was pecking it a little tonight, and was doing the same last week (I assumed she was just preening last week). She's not pecking any other part of her body.

 

I opened up the feathers, and found a small stump that by the looks of it once had a feather there, but other than that, it's not infected or even sore looking.

 

I couldn't see lice etc, and is otherwise very happy, laying, dust bathing, eating, scratching around, drinking etc.

 

Here's a close-up of the stump in the centre of the photo:

 

http://www.hopsandmalt.com/images/kiki.jpg

Any ideas?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

No need to worry . It's her preen gland .

 

You're not the first to think it was something sinister .

 

(I've removed the codes in your photo as it was a bit big!)

[gongladosh]

Brilliant, cheers for that!