Sunning in Early Morning

[centrarchid]

I have been doing some extra watching lately due extended holiday weekend. On dewy mornings with full sun, an interesting pattern is evident. All the chickens move to full sun locations and extend their flight feathers in a manner that catches more sun. I am pretty certain they do not have additional need for vitamin D production, especially the adult males. Even a Turkey Vulture was doing it at the same time on power pole. It could be to keep warm but I think it is more to completely dry flight feathers more rapidly to enhance flight capabilities. The vulture was doing the feather exposing to an extreme.

 

[azygous]

You're probably onto something. When I used to live on the coast of California I would see large flocks of cormorants on rocks with wings outstretched. I knew they were drying their wings from dives under water to feed. They looked like so much laundry hung out to dry.

It never occurred to me our chickens might be doing something similar when they flop down in the sun and unfold their wings.

 

[centrarchid]

Mine not always flopping down. Some fly 10 feet up to position themselves on top of pen, ridge of roof, or even a pole. Most of time they are standing which differs markedly from sunbathing later in the day when they lay on the ground.