Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[CarolineN]

Hi. We just lost one of our hens to an undefined, but dramatic illness (I'm guessing it was cancer or septic peritonitis) and a few weeks ago, before she got really poorly, we noticed a large 'pimple' on her back at the base of her tail feathers. We didn't do anything about it, and in a few days it was gone. However, we have one remaining hen, and have just noticed the same kind of protrusion on her back, at the base of her tail feathers. I'm wondering if this was an early symptom that we missed, and if it was, what is it a symptom of and what can I do about it?

[Snowy]

Hi, sorry to hear that you lost a hen

However the lump that you refer to is probably the preen gland. All chickens have a little warty growth at the base of their tail. They get oil from it to preen their feathers.

[Egluntyne]

This will be her preen gland. It is nothing to worry about. It gives people a shock the first time they see it.

[CarolineN]

Thank you very much for your help and reassurance - we were in a bit of a panic over it after our first hen's dramatic and sad decline.