Chickens rubbing face on ground

[svh]

Just curious. My chickens occasionally rub their face / beak on the ground, usually in the gravel, with a side to side motion. They do not do it constantly, just once in a while, rooster and pullets.

I suspect they are cleaning the dirt / mud / wet food from their beaks, as it has been very wet and muddy lately, and they love scroungin around in the moist soil. I also feed them wet all flock in the mornin, and they seem do rub more frequently ? after eating this moistened food. I have also noticed their beaks have mud / debris on them quite often.

Anyone else notice this in their flock ? This (chickens) is all new to me, and was wonderin if this is normal behavior, or should I check for something else.

 

[RaineyTN]

Normal

 

[DobieLover]

They are cleaning their beaks. Sometimes, they will also use your pant legs or shoes to clean their beaks.

 

[igorsMistress]

Yes, this is typical behavior. No napkin? Use the ground!

 

[Ebony Rose]

Perfectly normal behavior. If the dirt is just right in the location that they've groomed their beak, they may decide to 'scratch' (dust bathe) their whole head and body in that location.

 

[svh]

Cool, Thanks for the replies ! That's what I suspected, just makin sure.

 

[Manhen]

Just curious. My chickens occasionally rub their face / beak on the ground, usually in the gravel, with a side to side motion. They do not do it constantly, just once in a while, rooster and pullets.

I hesitate to tell you, because correcting this is difficult. It is caused by a fungus found in moist earth. You need to remove it, and you may not be able to see it. Good luck is around though because it is easily treatable. You will need to use a small paint brush dusted with fairy dust and gently brush their beaks.

 

[svh]

I hesitate to tell you, because correcting this is difficult. It is caused by a fungus found in moist earth. You need to remove it, and you may not be able to see it. Good luck is around though because it is easily treatable. You will need to use a small paint brush dusted with fairy dust and gently brush their beaks.

Sarcasm ? Humor ?

I'm goin with humor, although either of the two are all good !!!

Do I need the fairy dust that comes with a magic wand, or do I have to contact Merlin for said dust ?

 

[Manhen]

Sarcasm ? Humor ?

I'm goin with humor, although either of the two are all good !!!

Do I need the fairy dust that comes with a magic wand, or do I have to contact Merlin for said dust ?

humour…. I read a whole paragraph on beak wiping. No known reason for it, just a lot of theories.... :O

 

[Manhen]

humour…. I read a whole paragraph on beak wiping. No known reason for it, just a lot of theories.... :O

Sarcasm ? Humor ?

I'm goin with humor, although either of the two are all good !!!

Do I need the fairy dust that comes with a magic wand, or do I have to contact Merlin for said dust ?

I noticed you are from mid MO, I lived in Boone County for pert near 30 years. And yes I am guilty of ..."aggressive" humorous devices like sarcasm, cynycism, and hyperbolic metaphors. To a fault.
To wit: I find the beak wiping behavior interesting, not as to why, but as to another of the limited behaviors that instinct has given these birds. They all do it, and mine had no adults to show them first. I think it's because they don't have hands.