Debeaking at McMurray?

[Jeeper1540]

Do all hatheries do this or just McMurray?

 

[JLS]

Quote:
I belive most hatcheries will do it to starter pullets (if they sell them). But I have not seen it routinely done to chicks. If they do it at all, it;s usually something that has to be requested/paid for.

 

[Jeeper1540]

does MyPetChicken have starter pullets? i couldnt find them anywhere, but i want to make sure.

 

[CompostQueen]

Wow! I am so glad to hear that they don't debeak chicks! Although it makes me wonder about the living conditions of the pullets if they need to debeak!
I am wondering if I remembered the post wrong and she did get pullets and not chicks. But it did sound as though the beaks of some of the chickens were Quite mangled!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Folks, all of those started chicken pullets from McMurray's are commercial birds. That's why they are available as started pullets. They are meant for the commercial egg industry and anyone who would like a high production bird like what they use.

Here are all of the started chicken pullets I could find on their site.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/started_white_leghorn_pullets.html
Beak Trimmed, Fully Vaccinated, Floor Raised and approximately 17 weeks old when we ship them to you.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/red_started_pullets.html
Beak Trimmed, Fully Vaccinated, Floor Raised and approximately 17 weeks old when we ship them to you.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/black_star_started_pullets.html
Doesn't say if they are debeaked or not, but probably are.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/red_star_started_pullets_6_weeks_old.html
[We are offering 6 week old Red Star females for a limited time, so don't delay in placing your order.

These chicks are not debeaked and will be vaccinated against Marek's, Newcastle/Bronchitis, Bursal (Gumboro), Fowl Pox/Pigeon Pox. These chicks will mature and begin laying eggs around 16-20 weeks of age.

Except for the Black Stars which seems to be missing some of the text they are all clearly marked as being beak trimmed or not trimmed.

If you don't want started commercial birds then these are not for you though you might note the six week old birds are not trimmed. You'll have to finish raising them the rest of the way out but they are at least started.

The commercial egg industry has problems and needs that back yard bird owners do not and vice versa. Choose your birds accordingly.

 

[Jeeper1540]

well, MyPetChicken doesn't show any Started Pullets, so im guessing they dont do the debeaking. McMurray says flat out they do it to started pullets. in an effort to not support this, i'm not going to buy birds from McMurray. Am i crazy, or is anyone with me?

 

[Hennypen]

Does anyone have a picture of a debeaked bird? Do they just trim it or take the entire beak off? How is it done?

 

[sgtmom52]

This is from another BYC thread ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=32842&p=2

They can trim 1/3 to 1/2 of the beak with a trimming machine. I think that it would be very painful when they trim 1/2 so that it never grows back. Trimming the very tip is like trimming a fingernail ~ trimming 1/2 is like cutting into your fingernail bed so that your nail doesn't grow back.

 

[CheepSunglasses]

I won't buy debeaked birds, and I won't buy from McMurray. We choose to support our local breeders, especially in this economy. This means we can check on the conditions in which they are raised and support those folks who are doing a good job with their birds, keeping our money local. It also eliminates any losses due to shipping. We can pick out the birds we want, then bring them home safely. We might have to wait a little longer for breeds we want, but it's worth the wait. Really, there are so many people raising chickens these days that you can find anything you want within a reasonable drive. You just might not find it tomorrow.

 

[CompostQueen]

Quote:
I am with you!