Hen wing dancing

[Trish1974]

Has anyone ever seen a hen drop a wing to another hen? I did this evening. My 3 year old Australorp dropped a wing and circled my 3 year old Golden Comet. Just wondering how common it is and why she did that.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

My Gamefowl hen does it when she is mad at another hen. She even did it to her cockerel sons this past summer when she was weaning them and running them off from their pullet sisters.

 

[Alexandra33]

Too many times to count. Most of my hens make good use of this wing dancing, especially when trying to intimidate resident roosters. It works.

~Alex

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I have noticed though that when a hen does the wing dance she drops her outer wing and shuffles around the hen with her inner wing folded normally. When a cock or cockerel does the dance to mate with a hen I’ve noticed that he will drop the inner wing and shuffle around the hen while keeping his outer wing folded like normal.

 

[aart]

Nope, don't think I've ever seen that here...
.....interesting to read about those who have tho.

 

[Runt of the Flock]

I assume she is showing a form of dominance to the other hens. Like she is saying "Back off. I'm higher up in the pecking order, leave me be."

 

[MageofMist]

Old post, but I caught Betty doing it to the new girl, Tiny. They then had a short fight, with Tiny jumping atop Betty, Betty following up by biting Tiny's comb, and then both walking off ruffling their feathers and stopping to flap their wings at one-another.