Debeaking, Should I Or Not?

[newchickens2009]

I Have A Few Hens That Just Can't Seem To Get Along. They Don't Peck Alot But When They Do It Is Hard. Should I Debeak So The Bleeding Will Stop? And If So What Is The Best Way To Do It?

 

[seminolewind]

I say no because I got my first chicken from a hatchery, and she was debeaked and I was shocked. We love her and we never told her, and she doesn't know.

If you debeak, you may be making someone an even bigger target for pecks. Please don't

 

[A1 Steak Sauce]

You mean trim the beaks or actually de-beak? How big of a space are they in, and how many chickens? Personally, I'd let them be. Or if there's just one bully hen sell her or butcher her.

 

[redhen]

No, please dont do it. It is so very painful for them. Their beak is full of nerve endings.

 

[Paraclete 2]

Please remember that one of the reasons stores put out signs that say not touching please is because humans explore with their hands, but chickens explore with their beaks, often when they pick and peck they are exploring. Would you want your hands cut off? I doubt it! Please as one suggested earlier if you have a mean one isolate it or butcher it but debeaking is cruel. Bless you.

 

[19hhbelgian]

I would rather butcher one of my birds before I de-beaked it, and that says a lot, seeing as how All of our animals are a part of the family, including the chickens... Please don't!

 

[suburbanminifarm]

For goodness sake please don't do that! It is inhumane. Factory farms do this because they are not willing to give their birds enough living space. This stress and overcrowding results in pecking. Can you give yours some time out of their coop each day?

 

[BarkerChickens]

The easiest, most painless way is just take a finger nail file and round out the end a little (not too much as you don't want to get too close to the quick...it is like filing our fingernails down to the skin...ouch!). It is not so sharp, it may not hurt as much.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I had a flock of Red Sexlink from Moyer's that were debeaked, because they were purchased as ready to lay. They managed to peck each other anyway, so I wouldn't bother trying it!

 

[Chickenmaven]

Quote:
When my hen, Frank, has a speck on her beak, she wipes it off on the leg of my coveralls. So, yeah, they are very sensitive. I would rehome or isolate a bird before I would do that.