Wing flutter? Nervous energy - bored?

[newbyduckmom]

What makes ducks continually flutter their wings? I notice my hens in particular do a mini-flutter so that they continually act like they are going to flap their wings but only raise them a 1/2 an inch or so from their bodies and never fully extend the wing? Bored? Nervous? Agitated?

 

[Amiga]

When my runners do that it is usually to dry off under their wings after bathing, or cool off in the heat.

 

[newbyduckmom]

Thanks, Amiga, could be. We just had one heck of a deluge of rain. The ducks, of course, sat right out in it, until the thunder and lightening started....they actually went in the duck house!

 

[Amiga]

After a good drenching, my runners will stand around gently moving their wings, which they keep drooped lower than usual. Sometimes they will alternate, first one wing then the other. I have seen cormorants do that in the wild.

 

[newbyduckmom]

I have seen them alternate as well. Just never seen all five of them doing it at the same time. Wasn't sure if it was due to events of last couple of days, new surroundings, but the water makes the most sense. It really came down! Thought we were going to all need to swim. Huge tree limb came down....luckily it didn't hit anything (last time it came down on the duck house - now away from trees)!

 

[Amiga]

Yow! Last autumn, a chunk of red oak took off the corner of the duck house . . . we had just moved them into their winter home in the walkout basement. That would have caused panic!