Beak Trimming? (Not sure if this is the right forum?!)

[barnslave]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum ... I couldn't figure out what one this fit into best!!

My coming 1 year old Rhode Island Red rooster has never had his beak trimmed. We bought him and 11 others as day olds. At a month or two old, the 11 others got eaten by a racoon

This one little guy survived and thus, was is being kept as a pet. We never bothered trimming his beak, since he was very skittish and didn't like to be handled -- can't blame him though!

Is he too old to trim his beak? I don't want him picking on the Turkeys that we are considering bringing in .. as well, right now if he were to nick one of us with that beak ... ouch!! :0 If he's not too old ... how does one trim a beak? I've always bought Ready-To-Lay hens that already have their beaks trimmed, so it's not something I'm used to doing!?

Step by step, idiot proof instructions would be ideal

lol !!!

- barnslave

 

[Judy]

On this forum, I'd venture to say that very few trim beaks other than to treat a deformity such as crossbeak. It can be done with a file or Dremel tool or even nail clippers, but you can do serious damage if you trim too much, they can bleed profusely. Also, many on here keep turkeys and chickens together. The danger would probably be in the turkeys getting blackhead from the chickens, rather than in pecking, at least once the turkeys are large enough to be on the ground and together.

Commercial operations routinely trim beaks to prevent cannibalism because they crowd the chickens so much that they attack each other.

 

[rolffamily]

We had some chickens with trimmed beaks and I, personally, would never recommend it. Their whole day consists of pecking around looking for--whatever. You take away the one tool they have to use and you pretty much ruin their enjoyment and way of life.

I think beak trimming was meant for those great chicken factories where they are crowded so close together that they only thing they have to peck at is each other.

 

[barnslave]

Interesting!! Our 9 month old laying hens came from the hatchery with their beak trims, so I thought it was commonplace ... but apparently not!

I will leave Chicklets beak intact ... They have lots of room; right now 32 square feet to seven chickens, plus an outdoor run .. so they have lots of room to amuse themselves without picking on each other

Thanks!

 

[LadyinRed]

You can use a nail file or a pair of nail clippers to just clip off the little tip on the top section of the beak that overhangs at any age.
You can also get pinless peepers if he is too old to permanently trim it?

Edited cause I'm an idiot and apparently my eyes skipped part of the post.