My chickens "wipe their nose" occasionally when eating

[steveg144]

Well, to be precise, they scrape their beaks on the ground. Are they sharpening their beaks? wiping excess food off their mouths? Or making a snarky comment about the quality of the treats I give them? Thanks as always.

 

[scbatz33]

They are 'breaking up" the treat. If they get something they think is too big, they will scrape it on the ground to make into a smaller bit from swallowing. Chickens dont' have teeth!

 

[CCourson05]

Mine do this when there is food on there beak. They are cleanly... At least about their beak.

 

[DebbieF]

Food on beak x2. My parrot also does it

 

[DanEP]

Mine always do that after something juicy like watermelon or tomatoes,but they prefer my shoes to the ground.

Dan

 

[crossgirl]

I noticed this when I gave mine some yogurt. Seems they don't like messy beaks!

 

[Judy]

I've seen mine do that after eating most anything. Most of mine prefer the roost. I don't know whether it's a wipe the mouth kind of thing or sharpen the beak thing or what -- but anyway it's normal.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I agree with the above posters.

I just thought I would add that when I have used "pick no more" lotion to prevent pecking, they wipe their beaks after they try to peck the bottom of another chicken as if to say, "Ewwww."

Just another reason to wipe one's beak.

 

[PatS]

I always say they're "sharpening" their beaks, but I agree with the other posters.

 

[benjoycei]

I see wild song birds do the same thing