why do chickens rub their beaks in the dirt?

[brahmakid11]

why do chickens rub their beaks in the dirt is it to wash the food or water off their beaks? any info would be great

 

[ladysfield]

It appears to be to clean the beak. I notice my chickens doing a lot of 'beak wiping' when I've given them something they didn't like and refused to eat or a greasy food.

 

[goldtopper]

Nature's napkin!

 

[LoreenH]

Mine sometimes use my pants leg as a beak wipe.

 

[Ole rooster]

I would think it's to clean the beak. But now and then I see a few of mine do that to on a big rock then look at me. I've been thinking they have some kinka of an attack planed. You think?

 

[NovaAman]

LOL. Sometimes makes you wonder doesn't it. No, I think thats kinda a natural filing, kinda like parots, keets, ect do on cuttle bones... soap stones...

 

[zzGypsy]

Quote:
sneaky little Velociraptor ....
mine do it when I've fed them something like bananas or overripe peaches... they're kinda fastidious about gooey things.

 

[maizy'smom]

Mine wipe theirs on the hardware cloth of the run. For some reason, it always makes me think of convicts in jail, clinking their tin cups across the jail cell bars! "Let us out! Now!"

mm

 

[duckinnut]

They listened to their mother as to not wipe their mouth on their sleeves.

 

[vclark321]

Mine do it on anything near by, but I have to agree with a previous poster, when they do it on hardware cloth it sounds like convicts. After a gooey treat they use the patio. I am guessing since they can't use napkins, this will do.