Debeaking, Should I Or Not?

[newchickens2009]

Quote:
I WOULD NEVER TAKE THEIR BEAK ALL THE WAY OFF. I LOVE MY CHICKENS AND DON'T WANT TO HURT THEM JUST WANT TO MAKE LIFE HAS BEST HAS IT CAN BE. IT IS MY FAULT FOR NOT EXPLAINING MYSELF ENOUGH. WHAT I WAS ASKING WAS SHOULD I JUST FILE IT A LITTLE TO MAKE THE END OF THE TOP HALF ROUND SO IT IS NOT SO SHARP AND POINTED? I HAVE 4 HENS AND 1 ROO IN A 4X10 6FT HIGH COOP WITH A 4X4 ROOSTING AND EGG LAYING BOX ON THE SIDE OF IT BOUT 3FT OF THE GROUND ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. I FREE RANGE JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY AT 5PM UNTIL THEY GO IN TO ROOST ON THEIR OWN. HAS FAR HAS IF IT IS JUST ONE HEN? NO. THE HENS ARE IN GROUPS 2 AGANIST 2.

 

[cybercat]

Quote:
This might be food related. Since they are drawing blood. Try uping protien a bit and give some greens. Also sqwabling happens even my free range chickens to it and pull feathers and draw blood. It is just they way things go. I have had pullts peck at roosters comb and make it bleed and pullets after other pullets combs also.

Since I have 23 chickens there is alot of testing of postions that goes one. This is very normal in a flock nothing to worry about. If you have one bleeding constant remove them till healed. If you know which one is the bully remove that one too at same time. That way when you bring them back in it is at same time and bully will be at low end of the stick so to speak.

 

[Momo]

You can also try using peepers (google "pinless peeper") - they're inexpensive and more humane, in my view, than debeaking. With peepers on a chicken can't see straight in front so they can't aim well enough to peck / pluck others. But they can still be part of the flock and do everything the other chickens do. I have a hen who started plucking feathers from the others last winter; I put a set of pinless peepers on her and it solved the problem completely. I took them off in the spring and so far have had no recurrence of the behaviour.

 

[doublebow]

I don't have this problem right now but that is great info momo!