debeaked chickens

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Jim from Cincinnati

Jim from Cincinnati

In the Brooder
10 Years
Dec 13, 2009
53
0
29
Cincinnati, Ohio
Have a question about debeaked chickens, does the top beak ever grow? Am wondering if the beak is like a toe nail and grow back at some point? Have a mean hen and tried other methods and am considering debeaking her, but am wondering if the beak could grow back at some point in time incase this does not work?.....thanks
 
If you trim the beak it grows back but not if you debeak. Debeaking is extremely painful for the bird, hatcheries use a hot knife sort of thing to do it so it stops the bleeding before it starts. Look up some pics of debeaked hens and I bet you may change your mind about the debeaking process. I would just trim that mean hens beak or try seperating her from the flock for a few days.
 
Quote:
What do you mean by 'mean?'

I've trimmed beaks of egg eaters before: use dog nail clippers. You have to cut it back to wear it bleeds or you've done no good. It will grow back but it takes a good long time.

I've never trimmed a hen for being 'mean.' Hens have a pecking order. Somebody is going to be at the bottom. The bottom chicken seldom dies from it's place on the totem-pole. But if it does die then my thoughts are it was weak and Nature is just taking it out of the gene pool for you.
 
Sorry..the hen in question is a Hamburg hen almost 2 years old. She is the top hen of a flock of only3. It is my thinking that she is biting off all or parts of the feathers on the other 2 hen's heads. I have not actually seen her do it but have checked for lice and have put her in a cage of her own. This hen's head is totally feathered. the 3 live in a 4foot by 5foot by 5foot house and have a yard of 10foot by 10foot by 6foot high. I have tried the lotion that is to stop the hen from pecking on the other 2, but it must make them smell different and she goes at them as though a they are a new chicken. I have bought some stop pecking things you hook into her nose...but could not get them to stay in. So, had heard about debeaking but was unsure if this was a all or nothing procedure. Thanks for your information. I understand the pecking order and but am thinking it not a good idea for the other 2 hens to go into winter when it comes with missing feathers?...thanks Jim
 
i adopted a debeaked hen. IT IS NOT GOOD... I wouldnt do it. heck, just send me the hen up here north of you and I'll teach her not to be mean.
big_smile.png


This is my debeaked girl that I adopted. She is on 'My Page as well under the 2 new girls"

May
58585_merrychristmas_040.jpg
 
On the picture:

That hens bottom beak needs to be trimmed. You can do it easily with a sharp knife: no blood. Just cut from the back to the front.
 
Quote:
I'm sure you are right. It is the one hen doing it to the other two. Taking her out for a limited time will not work; when she goes back (2 to 3 days later) the pecking order must be re-established; thus, they get it again. If you had a cock then he would take care of things: honestly.
 

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