Why do my hens wipe their beaks?

[Florida_girl]

I have been wondering why my hens wipe their beaks on the ground? They seem to do it all the time.

 

[nccountrygirl]

The ground is there napkin.

 

[Redfeathers]

Mine wipe their beaks on my shoes or pant legs.

 

[6chix]

Uuuuummmm...they don't have hands or napkins?

 

[karmical]

Mine wipe their beaks on the ground and my lap too...I've noticed that after they wipe, they eat what was wiped off...especially after their AM oatmeal!!

 

[OHChick]

i always thought it was commentary on the treat i was giving them. mine only seem to do it with stuff they don't like.

 

[Dodgegal79]

My House Chicken does it on anything she can find. She really needs to do it after having a piece of banana. My brother, hes not very bright, thought she was sharpening her beak. I asked why would she need to do that. He couldn't figure out why.

(and he's 50 years old).

 

[Ma]

Just FYI, all birds in nature have this "habit". It is more of a nervous habit that really has no practical reason.

Watch the wild birds in your back yard, you will see them do this very same behavior.

 

[bantymum]

Cause they dont have a toothbrush !!!!

But also if they are in a dirtbath and wipe their beaks to the left and right they are claiming their "digs"

 

[nccatnip]

My bantys do it on my shoes after I feed them a messy treat like cottage cheese, yougurt or oatmeal. They just don't like messy faces!!!!