Beak scratching?

[gaeamama]

My chickens, all 4 months old, have been scratching their beaks on the ground... swiping them back and forth a few times every now and then. I'm wondering if this is a sign of something.... are they missing something in their diet? Why would a beak be "itchy"?

This is the second time I've had a flock of chickens, the first were free range.. and I don't remember them doing that.

Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Robin

 

[BantyChickMom]

I have seen all of my chicks do that.
Even the 2/3 week olds do it from time to time.

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Have seen 20 wk old pullets do it, must be a wipe your mouth thing.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, it's a wiping of the beak thing. Give one of them some sticky rice or marshmellow or a slug and see how many times they wipe! They'd use a napkin but they can't hold one.

 

[gaeamama]

Cute! I'd love to see them using a napkin.

Ok, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing some sort of "sign".

Thanks,
Robin

 

[wegotchickens]

I think they also do that to sharpen them up. Mine love to do it on the firewood stack...

But I've seen them use the grass to wipe their beaks after eating sticky food.

 

[SpottedCrow]

If you were closer they would use you as a napkin. It's just to clean off their beaks.

 

[mdbucks]

Quote:
Stand close enough after giving them something sticky and they think your pantleg is the napkin(if in shorts you bare leg get it)

edited to add if I typed quiker this wouldn't be a repeat of spoted crows thought.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yuck, I remember when my 3-day olds used my arm as a napkin when I was moving stuff around in their brooder... they were still experimenting with the cecal poo....

 

[mdbucks]

Quote:
that was sh(cant use that word) poopy thing for them to do