I bought a de-beaked hen

[pfost262]

I purchased a de-beaked hen who looks a bit funny, but I think it's okay. I was wondering if I have to treat this hen any different than my other 4 who I have had since last June and are NOT de-beaked. Thanks!

 

[Johnn]

I purchased a de-beaked hen who looks a bit funny, but I think it's okay. I was wondering if I have to treat this hen any different than my other 4 who I have had since last June and are NOT de-beaked. Thanks!

you don't need to treat her any differently. I have some ex batts which are de-beaked and they are fine getting the same treatment as the other girls.

 

[sumi]

What you can do for her is make sure she eats from a dish where she can scoop the food up easily. I had some battery hens too and some of them were badly de-beaked. They couldn't pick food off the ground at all. I found wetting the food so it's like a porridge helped those girls a lot.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

We have a bunch of debeaked hens. They all free-range with the rest of the flock and do just fine. They can catch bugs, eat greens, etc. We dont' treat them any differently than the other birds.

 

[texas hiker]

Will the beaks ever grow back?

 

[OldGuy43]

Will the beaks ever grow back?

Eventually. We did change to layer crumbles since they seemed to have trouble with pellets.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Will the beaks ever grow back?

Ours never have.

And ours handle pellets just fine.

I think you'll just have to watch your hens and give them what they need.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

I have 2 de-beaked hens in with the rest of my laying flock. They free range just fine and have no problems eating their crumble feed, I just notice that they are at the bottom of the pecking order. They don't get picked on if there's enough space for everyone. I've never had a de-beaked hen grow back her beak, I think when the hatcheries cauterize the clipped beak it stops it from growing permanently.

 

[redrstr29]

This is what 6 of my started pullets look like (not too badly debeaked) I didnt know until I saw them? But they eat mash and crumble perfectly and free range just fine, This ones actually at the top of the pecking order above 3 non debeaked ones!!

 

[JadeRahl]

I would keep an eye on lice or mites. Routine inspections and such. I'm sure a debeaked hen would have difficulty preening. Poor girls.