Do chicks need their beaks clipped???

[MaidMariHen]

I have 5 chicks, they are 4 weeks old. We have a friend that has other chicks but also got some mature hens and they came with their beaks clipped slightly. I was wondering if this needed to happen?

 

[MysteryChicken]

No, beak clipping is totally unnecessary, & painful to the birds.

 

[kwhites634]

I have 5 chicks, they are 4 weeks old. We have a friend that has other chicks but also got some mature hens and they came with their beaks clipped slightly. I was wondering if this needed to happen?

Absolutely not, unless you're keeping birds in severely overcrowded conditions, like contract poultry growers.

 

[Doc7]

no

 

[Tre3hugger]

X5 NO

 

[MaidMariHen]

Ok thanks so much!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Ok thanks so much!

You're welcome.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Just as explanation - the reason some birds have them "clipped" (they cut through the beak and then cauterize it so it won't grow back) is because in commercial settings, birds are so stressed that they'll peck and attack each other. It can interfere with eating if the clipping is severe enough.

A chicken that's kept in spacious housing with good quality feed shouldn't be under that level of duress and therefore shouldn't be attacking its flockmates.