about a month or so ago I got 4 hens from a man who had like 200, I didn't notice in till I got home that they were de beaked (should of fugured), they eat OK, drink fine, try to feather them self's (little hard) I let them out about 2 X time a week and they try to free range, They do have a harder time eating off of hard places (ground, coop floor) It is VERY VERY sad sometimes to watch them try to pick a piece of food up, after about 10 try's they move on to the "next" piece. I WOULD NEVER EVER get any of my chickens de beaked !!!!! ohhh and then "giving treats" that's a whole other story..... Its truly is horrible !!!!!! None of my others ( beaked hen) have an issue pecking each other or eggs, all the girls get peck once and again thats what chickens do... If you have enough room you wont have a problem, people that have 10000's of birds in a 10 x 10 have to de beak b/c if they didn't there would be major issues. but then again people like that shouldn't own chickens and they should be put in a 10 x 10. Please don't de beak your chickens !!!!!