New Beak Trimmed/debeaked Hens,

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WoodlandBelle

WoodlandBelle

In the Brooder
Jun 21, 2015
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Hi from Muskoka Ontario! I'm new to the world of chickens and just received 6 ready to lay red sex link hens from the feed supply store and I was shocked and saddened by how aggressively some of their beaks were trimmed. Is beak trimming and debeaking the same thing?

Here are some pics, is this normal for trimmed beaks?





Does anyone have experience with hens like these? I have watched them free range and forage and looks like they have some trouble trying to pick up worms and bugs, but eventually they manage. I am making sure to keep their feed and water deep enough. Any other advise for these poor girls?

Just have to add that I can't believe how much I love chickens, they are so much fun to watch!
 
Welcome to BYC!

Poor little hens. Yes, debeaking and trimming the beak are the same thing. Both I find to be completely unnecessary. Still, hens that have had it done can manage. I'll bet grooming is more difficult though.

I'm glad your taking such good care of them!
smile.png


Best of luck!
 
Thank you for your reply GitaBooks! :)

Yes, I won't be purchasing any more hens from places that do that kind of thing (unless they are a rescue). I have done some research online to find out more about debeaking, so I understand why but I still don't like it. I feel so bad for them because their beaks just look so funny, I can see their tongues darting in and out they try to eat/drink. Their beaks do not completely close and have an open space in the middle . I've named one pouty lips because it looks like she is trying to kiss you, lol.

I will try to be a good chicken mama and I look forward to learning more about them.
 
Gawd what a drag, I hate to see that.
Make sure your birds have feed(crumble or mash grind) that is deep enough for them to scoop it up as they can't pick up single pieces off a hard surface.

I do not think that debeaking is the same as trimming.

Debeaking is done with cauterization and I don't think the beak will grow back.
Trimming takes much less beak off and it will grow back.
 
Last edited:
Thanks aart, it really is a drag.

Frey's hatchery website stated that the ready to lay's would be beak trimmed at 6 weeks, so I assumed just the tips of the beaks would be clipped off. I didn't expect this. I did email the company pictures to ask if this is what they meant by beak trimming, they never responded.

I do have them on layer mash in a pvc pipe trough style feeder which I keep fairly full. I think they are managing ok. It's just sad to see them trying to peck some grain off the ground, they have such a hard time doing it.

I guess my girls will never be supermodel chickens, but hey, I think they are pretty.
 
WoodlandBelle said:
Thanks aart, it really is a drag.

Frey's hatchery website stated that the ready to lay's would be beak trimmed at 6 weeks, so I assumed just the tips of the beaks would be clipped off. I didn't expect this. I did email the company pictures to ask if this is what they meant by beak trimming, they never responded.

I have a feeling most if not all hatcheries sell their almost ready to lay pullets debeaked. A long time ago my husband wanted eggs sooner and ordered some that were debeaked. We hated it and when we ordered more asked that it not be done. Too late, they do it too all their birds at a certain point.
I would never get anything but day olds from a hatchery now..
Click to expand...
 
Yes dekel18042, I would have not ordered these birds if I knew that this is the condition they would arrive in. When I first saw them I wanted to return them but didn't want to put them through the stress of traveling again and I didn't know where they would end up, maybe in a large scale egg production. I couldn't do that to them so I decided to keep them. I am sure they are better off here than anywhere else.

Not all the birds were done so severely, so I don't understand why some of them lost so much of their beak. Maybe someone behind the debeaking machine was having a bad day that day. Those poor chickens sure were.

Why don't hatcheries offer ready to lay's that are intact and just charge a premium price for them? I for one would pay more.

I will have to try raising from day olds sometime, it sounds like a very rewarding experience. :)
 
I have two rode island reds both from a pet store bought 5 years ago both were rebealed when we bought them one chickens beak grew back the other didn't the one that didn't is thinner and has a hard time getting food in her mouth because the bottom of her beak is 3/16 to 1/4" longer than the top she poos watery a lot the vet tested the poo it's OK she got a but wash last week and she isn't doing to good this week I looked on NYC and found good info I've been hand feeding her scrambled eggs and blueberries and chicken food so in the winter lift up the chickens for their weight keep an eye on them to see if they can eat grass and sand and food if I find out if I can trim the bottom beak and see how she does I'll post it
 
Hi duesman, seems like you are taking very good care of your chickens. How is she doing now? My hens seem like they are managing OK but I'm sure they would do much better if they still had their beaks. I thought about trimming up their bottom beak as well but decided not to because I didn't want to cause them any more trauma. Definitely keep me posted on how you do with your hens. :)
 

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