Mixing Debeaked Hens

Date sort Score sort
Coles FreshEggs

Coles FreshEggs

In the Brooder
6 Years
Aug 19, 2013
61
4
33
Ipswich, Ma
I have about 13 separate flocks of birds. All Golden Comets of various ages. I have a question, as it is something I have never done before. Are there any concerns in mixing a flock of 15 debeaked hens in with a flock of 50 hens? Is it cruel because they are un-able to defend themselves? This is my last flock that is debeaked as I am currently phasing it out on my farm. Anyone who has any experience with this please let me know. Thanks
 
aart said:
If they are truly 'debeaked'.... it won't grow back.
Click to expand...
I think that whether it will grow back depends on how and how deep it was done. Decades ago things were done in more humane ways, with just the point ground off. If done correctly, it wouldn't cause a permanent deformity..kinda how the chickens grind their own on stone/wood.
 
sunflour said:
Quote: When they are debeaked at the hatchery, and many commercial operations have this done, it is done 'deeply' and not just 'trimmed'.

Read several stories here in the last couple years about folks getting hatchery chicks and their beaks fell off at a few days old.
Orders gone wrong and they received commercially debeaked birds when they didn't order them that way.
They use some kind of cauterizing laser, the beak doesn't fall off right away and it doesn't grow back.
Click to expand...
 
aart said:
When they are debeaked at the hatchery, and many commercial operations have this done, it is done 'deeply' and not just 'trimmed'.

Read several stories here in the last couple years about folks getting hatchery chicks and their beaks fell off at a few days old.
Orders gone wrong and they received commercially debeaked birds when they didn't order them that way.
They use some kind of cauterizing laser, the beak doesn't fall off right away and it doesn't grow back.
Click to expand...
I know, and have seen photos how how those poor chickens look. And most are not able to eat and succumb to botched procedures.

I don't advocate debeaking chickens and disagree with declawing cats. I love them the way they are.
 
Then I'd mix debeaked birds with normal birds only if there was a lot of space, or only if the beaks where clipped so they'd grow back. Wouldn't want to leave any one with no way to defend them self or no where to run.
 

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