[Jomtie]

Our Copper Black has just started to do this. We have had her for more than a year and she has never done it before. She sticks one of her wings out and lies down. She just does it anywhere. She just done it on the mat inside the back door. Why is she doing this?

[Prod]

Mine do  that al the time, in the dust and especially when it is hot...

[Springlands]

Our hens do the wing spread thing when they are sun or dust bathing but if she has never done it before there might be another reason. Is she eating and drinking OK or does she seem off colour. Also check her to see if she has a red mite or other infestation. Is it possible that she hurt herself - might be useful to gently examine the wing.

[Jomtie]

She is alternating her wings so no damage. I have seen them do this in a dust bath so think it may be just because she's sunning herself but she does it anywhere and in odd places - she's definitely not infested (we checked thoroughly when we lost our ranger last week and again yesterday morning before we introduced the newbies). She's eating and drinking fine. She might be a bit stressed about the new girls - she's spent much of the day posturing and trying to convince them that she's top chicken!!

[Springlands]

Sounds like no need to worry then - just keep an eye on her for a couple of days to be sure. 

[compostqueen]

They spread their wings out when they are hot. They hucker down in soil or their dust bath, spread their wings out and hopefully get cool 

[Jomtie]

I think it must have been to cool down as it's much cooler today and she's not done it at all. We didn't have many hot days last summer so that's probably why I didn't see her do it, but it was very warm in the sun yesterday. She could have just moved under the bushes into the shade though - daft bird!!

[Hen 1-0 Fox]

Mine do this.... It is 'sunbathing' and stretching.... Perfectly normal an nothing to worry about.