Debeaked chickens - general questions and advice with food/foraging

[ChicksOnABeach]

Hi everyone and Happy Father’s Day to everyone for which it applies!

I have a few questions on debeaked chickens, their quality of life, and ways to make it easier for them to forage.

I went to the local hatchery on Wednesday with the purpose of getting a few chicks and saw that they were selling their adult layers as well as it’s the end of the season. They said that they were debeaked and I ended up bringing six hens (~10/11months old) home with us as well because I felt bad and we have the room for them. I’ve done a bit of research and while I understand why large facilities debeaked/trim for the safety of their chickens it personally bothers me.

The six ladies ladies are separated from our other hens and ducks for a quarantine period but have access to our 20’x40’ berry and fruit tree yard and an enclosed run and coop in which they sleep in at night.

Four of the hens have trimmed top beaks. They are slowly warming up to us and yesterday all ventured out of their run into the yard and I noticed that while they are going through the motions of foraging they are having trouble picking up grass/bugs/whatever looks tasty.

They felt thin when I picked them up to transfer from their crates to the coop on Wednesday but my other hen that I was comparing them too weight wise could just be on the heftier side. Their stool appears to be normal and four of the six have religiously laid eggs since they were brought home. They have access to several deep bowls of water and deep bowls of layer crumble scattered throughout their yard and run.

My few questions:

• How do I know if a hen is underweight or at what point should I be concerned?
• For those who have chickens who have been debeaked what is their quality of life compared to the ones who haven’t been trimmed?
• Should I offer them a wet mash or fermented mash as well?
• Should I schedule an appointment with an avian vet to see if they have trim their lower beaks to match their top so they can grab more easily?
• What is the probability of the beaks growing back?

I am going to attempt to post a pick of Joan, an Ameraucana, who has the most severely cut beak. And will try to get pics of the others to post when I get home.

I also appreciate any feedback and apologize if this isn’t in the right forum category.

Thank you!

 

[GodLovesU]

Poor babies!!I don’t know how to care for them but Good luck!Good for you to rescue them.

 

[Basghettiii]

Oh my. That is extremely concerning. I have no idea how to care for a chicken with a clipped beak, but by commenting I hope to bring this thread higher up in the recents tab to be seen by someone who does. You are doing a great thing by saving them, and even with reason, the clipped beaks just feel so wrong to me. That is cruel. I hope they find a good happy life with you

 

[skeeeter]

Hi, that girl in the post seems to be the most debeaked chicken I've ever seen. You could try feeding a 20% protein feed, start with dry, later try wet, and try offering a deep ( 3") dish of oyster shell on the side. Those hens will soon go through the moult and you want them to be on high feed then if they are still laying. Please don't try to cut off any more of their mouths, it looks like their tongues are exposed enough already.

 

[1stflockMama]

Poor babies! Will the beaks grow back? How are they now?