Had It With Cannibalism- Anyone Know Best Way To De-Beak Tip of Beak?

[silkiechicken]

Commercially, debeaking is done with a cut and a cauterization. Basically with a hot iron that burns the bone and quick so it doesn't bleed. With a cross beak, you have to be careful to just trim the nail like part of the beak, and not hit bone or quick, as it will bleed a lot. It's usually a skull plate deformity so can't really be "fixed" as easily as just trimming a nail.

 

[New adventure]

Thanks for the comment. I really don't mean to take over the thread but wanted to let you know that the bleeding finally stopped. Poor chookie needed a bath & blowdry to get it all off his legs and he's in his own little basket tonight so nobody picks on him. If the beak keeps getting more crossed, and it appears to be doing so, I'll have to decide what to do.

This is my first batch of chicks; thanks to all on BYC for the shared knowledge.

 

[chickeepoo]

The layer feed is out all the time, and the scratch and BOSS are a treat I throw out on the floor of the run in the morning. They get occasional scrambled eggs (every couple days or so) and some form of greens daily (either lettuce or grass).

What are peepers , where are they sold, and how do they keep the hen from pecking the others?

 

[JennsPeeps]

Here's a link to the peepers:
http://www.eggcartons.com/product-exec/product_id/754/nm/Pinless_Peepers_PINLESS_P

and another:
http://www.nationalband.com/nbtgame.htm

They work sort of like horse blinders, preventing the chicken from seeing what's immediately in front of it. They learn how to eat but can't see another chicken to peck at it. Many, many people here have had good success with those. The good thing is that they're removeable, so once you've broken the habit, you can remove them. Replace as needed.

You can probably buy peepers at your feed store but you can definitely order them online.

Please keep us posted.

 

[Anny]

How many bird do you have per square foot? How many roosters?

Space is normally the first issue, but some times you just get a mean hen that beats up on the others. They make little "blinders" that some one else mentioned those are worth giving a shot. Or seperating the "evil" hen from the others.

 

[chickeepoo]

No roosters, I think I just have a mean hen… there are only 2 RIR hens in this coop, 8x3. I had to do some moving around because of her the last two months, and ended up sending my favorite out to live with a friend's flock after she recovered from her attacks (she worked in fine and hasn't gotten beaten up like she did here with this hen). The BO's are across the corner of the yard in an 8x4, and they seem fine. I think this hen is just a bully- they get plenty of protein and extras, and she's the one Whodunit again.

I just took a look at the Peepers, and I think they're worth a try… thanks for the links, JennsPeeps!