How do chickens primarily gather their food?

Chickens primarily gather their food using their beaks. The beak is specifically adapted for picking and pecking at the ground, allowing chickens to forage for seeds, insects, and other food items. This specialized structure enables them to efficiently scratch and sift through the soil or litter in search of edibles.

While the chicken's mouth plays a role in processing food once it has been picked up, it is the beak that is crucial for the actual gathering of food. The feet are primarily used for scratching and walking, but not for collecting food in the manner that the beak is designed for. Though the tongue assists in manipulating food once it's in the mouth, it does not serve as a tool for gathering food directly from the ground. Thus, the beak is central to a chicken’s foraging behavior and food acquisition.