Why Do Chickens Take Sand Baths?

Chickens take sand baths to keep clean and free of bugs. They rub themselves around on the ground to get a lot of sand all throughout their feathers. When they shake themselves to get the sand out, bugs that were hiding among their feathers fall out too. By giving themselves a sand bath, chickens are able to shake loose lice and other insects that have crawled between their feathers. Chickens, the other relatives of the pheasant and skylarks don't bathe in water because they hate getting their feathers wet, but they give themselves sand baths. Almost all other birds bathe in water before they oil their feathers. One jay crushes ants and puts them under its wings. The smell of the ants sticks to its body and keeps other insects away.