Why does she do this ?

Date sort Score sort
J

JimnJanet

Songster
11 Years
Jan 29, 2008
537
1
159
S.W Pa.
This gal is 11 months old and among her sibs, all gals. The other day she started doin this and goin into full "strut" like a gobbler and blockin the doorway to the coop.
Anyone able to 'splain this behavior?

oh yeah WOOOOOHOOOOOOOO , i got this pic postin thing goin.
wee.gif


Picture014Small.jpg


She did this also, only to the gal on the ground tho.

Picture009Small.jpg
 
Last edited:
That behavior is called sunning. It's not strutting, just exposing the feathers and body to the sun.

Reasons are variable, the birds do it because it feels good but it has the side effect of possibly parasite control- they will sun on extremely hot days, the thought is it drives some parasites off the body. The other function and almost the main reason soaring birds sun is to straighten the feathers out especially the primaries which can get slightly bent or twisted from continual soaring(which turns the wing tips upwards).

Not to say she has parasites.. same reason birds completely free of lice and mites will dust bathe- they do it because it's instinct and feels very good to them.
 
in the first picture, she may be playing rooster. if there is no rooster in a flock of hens for around 2 weeks then one of the hens will become a "rooster" and while begin crowing and keeping the others in order or being bossy. This is normal. Getting a roo may solve this though.
 
In the second picture she is sunning herself. My chickens do this all the time. Sometimes they lay right on top of one another because they just kind of flop over.
 
The first picture could be partial broody. Does she open her wings to the ground? Than yes, broody (if she does) , no, preparing to sun.
 

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