Help need opinions on debeaking - Page 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marthab1953 

I have had thousands of chicks in my lifetime and have never had them debeaked I think it is cruel!  Very seldom do they pick on each other, unless they are crowded, overheated, bored etc.  Home raised chickens in my opinion should never be debeaked.

I agree. I hatch many chicks a year and I have between 2.5-3 sq ft for free range birds and 4 sq ft for housed birds with 8-10sq ft or run per bird. I haven't ever had a problem with pecking feathers. I have seen many debeaked birds at Auctions or Swap meets. I would not ever recommend to debeak a bird. It is a very painful thing for them. I am clad that you did not choose that option. In my opinion the hatchery might have offered to debeak the chicks to make more money. Most places its like 0.15-0.25 per bird with a $5-10 minimum charge. They would make more on each bird with little effort. Just a thought.

Nate

I think there's a difference between debeaking and "trimming." I started with 5 hens in ample space and at one point, "someone" started the pecking. I think this is what chickens do. It became a problem ONLY when blood was drawn. Then it became almost cruel to watch the hens go after the bloody spot.

So then you have to isolate the wounded chicken till it no longer becomes a target.

Remembering how I trimmed the sharp beaks of canaries when I raised them years ago , I decided to do this with the chickens. I trimmed the sharp points of their upper beaks. It worked beautifully; they "nudged" on occasion, but they couldn't do any serious damage. 

If anyone tries this, be careful not to hit a vein. If you do, you'll have to cauterize; but you can get pretty good at it, and the beak grows back, unlike the severity of debeaking. You just need to  do it a couple times a year. It gives me and my "ladies" peace at last.

And, if I accidentally trim a little deep, I tell the girls to "suck it up." It's for their own good!

Joe