My red bottom Rhode Island Red

One of my chickens has a bumpy, slightly raised, red area (featherless) at the base of her tail. It is about the size of a golf ball.

I am a new mom to chickens and I have no idea what it could be.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!!!

Is it at the top of her tail? It sounds like the oil gland. Maybe it is infected?

No, it is at the base of her tail, where her tail meets her back.

Sorry, that's what I mean. That is where the oil gland that they use to preen is. It shouldn't be that big--but that sounds like what it is. It may be impacted or infected.

This is a picture showing roughly where it is (okay, they are butchering the poor creature--but it is all I could find):

http://butcherachicken.blogspot.com/2007/09/step-6-remove-oil-gland.html

And here is a description of a similar problem on a cockatiel:

http://www.practical-pet-care.com/archive.php?2006073104533523

If it is impacted or infected, that first thing I'd try is warm compresses, for as long and as often as you can. If it begins to drain, you should be able to tell the difference between impacted and infected. If it's impacted, that should be the end of it (at least for now). If it's infected (copious thick white, yellow or grey exudate, especially with a off or foul odor) keep compressing. Don't let it close up, it needs to heal from the inside out. You can apply a triple antibiotic ointment several times a day. If it doesn't seem better soon, you may need to get some oral antibiotics into her.

HTH

Thanks Catscan, I didn't find the problem on the websites, but they were very informational and helpful in other ways.

Catmad, thank you too, but the red area is not weeping or open, just raised and red. I like your antibiotic idea though. I once took a parakeet to the vet and he said that instead of testing for everything under the sun, trying antibiotics is a good place to start.

thanks again:-)

I wasn't clear, as usual :(. The problem with impacted or abcessed glands is that they don't drain. The fluid/matter collects in a pocket, with no visible scab or opening.The compresses are to help the area come to a "head" and burst. That allows the infected or accumulated matter to drain, and healing to begin. A vet can open an abscess to drain and flush it, but compresses often work just as well, but without the stress.

Thanks catmad:-), I will look more closely into her gland area. Thanks again for your help:-)

Here is a pictures of my little chicken with the red bottom. She doesn't seem bothered in the least about it and none of her sisters seem to take notice of it. Hope the picture helps tell what her condition might be. Still think it is a gland issue?

thanks for everyone's help:-)

How odd. Could be self-mutilation? Or a mite problem? Here is a quite long discussion about a similar situation:

http://www.the-coop.org/wwwboard/discus/messages/5052/1773.html