Daft question - oil gland?

[jessmorris]

When I was checking my broody for mites I came across an inch long soft 'quill' but made of skin just above her tail. Is this her oil gland?

[roitelet]

Yes that's it.

[jessmorris]

Much bigger than I thought it would be. You never see them on birds for sale (supermarket). Do they cut them orf??

[RichmondHens]

They can vary in size, some birds seem to have enormous ones, others quite small. Supermarket birds are immature and quite possibly their preen gland hasn't developed enough to be visible but I don't know for sure. Like you I have never noticed one on a supermarket bird.

[jessmorris]

My cockerel had an enormous one (ahem). It was over an inch long.