New layers.... and a little dissappointed with the Debeaking... *pics*

[Brunty_Farms]

Yeah when they are done right they aren't bad at all and the actually do really well. They just trim the tips off, when they grow back they aren't extremely pointed but infact rounded. This way they can still do normal things like pick tiny ants off of the ground and preen.... but when they pick at other birds it doesn't cause as much damage as a pointy beak.

I'm upset but at least they have a good home for a couple of years. But yeah their beaks grow back but the ones that are mutalated never fully recover.

 

[dgh]

[email protected] wrote:

> I would like to hear more opinions about beak trimming and not about
> debeaking.



They are different terms for the same thing.

http://www.nup.com/Catalogue/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=62
Beak-trimming has been banned in some countries and is being phased out in
others. A section in the book is devoted to an examination of alternatives
to beak-trimming. The contributors report genetic, environmental enrichment,
nutritional and lighting strategies that could be used to replace
beak-trimming, and offer practical solutions, including the use of fitted
devices and beak abrasives.


http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PS022


http://www.henspa.com/debeaking.htm


more emotive
http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/egg-debeaking.html


--
regards
Jill Bowis


Domestic Poultry and Waterfowl Solutions
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine Nursery
Seasonal Farm Food
http://www.kintaline.co.uk




Reply Reply to author Forward

 

[Chicktastic]

Wow. I am really glad you have them now. I love the "first time seeing grass" photo.

 

[Kim_NC]

It's a shame someone at the hatchery did such a hatchet job on your pullets' beaks. It's hard when you're picking up 200+ birds at one time to see such things.

I really dislike debeaking and avoid buying debeaked birds if at all possible - for alot of reasons. However, that's not the point here since what's done is done.

I think it's great that you rescued them....and they have a much better situtation with you than a 'hatchery or egg factory life' would have been. How sweet they look seeing grass for the first time!

In your position, I would contact the hatchery and let them know how unskilled or unprofessional the debeaking was. Offer to provide some pictures. Perhaps they'll make some changes.

 

[hensdeliverthegoods]

All of my sex-link hens came with their beaks very similar to yours. It does look funny, but I've found that my girls are highly adaptable and are doing just fine.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

I've ordered from Meyer's and read that they don't debeak their birds. I'm very happy to hear this. Also, my McMurray birds didn't have their beaks chopped off.

 

[gaited horse]

were can I see more pics of your op

 

[Resolution]

Quote:
Bless your heart for rescuing them. I hope you can find a rooster and a setting hen to add to the flock so that you can hatch some of these superior egg producer's eggs. It will be much more difficult for them to catch invertebrates with no bill tip and also less efficiency at keeping themselves clean and feathers in top condition. For these reasons, I would tweak their diet - supplementing once a month with generous proportions of thoroughly soaked dogfood with a bit of animal fat ( kitchen drippings), a can of cranberry sauce and a bunch of dollar store spices ( black and red pepper, cinnamon and curry- turmeric if you can find it - if not, ginger powder works just as well but each month dump at least a half container of the spices into your poultry porridge- they will just need some extra help to live log productive lives.
Keeping a very large and CLEAN sand wallow for them will be absolutely vital- i would use clean playground sand or river sand- with plenty of wood ashes and more spices, crushed lime and a bit of DE.



Who'se from Fernley Nevada? I grew up in Wellington Nevada on the Hunewill Ranch- that's near Yerington.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

I've ordered from Meyer's and read that they don't debeak their birds. I'm very happy to hear this. Also, my McMurray birds didn't have their beaks chopped off.

Meyers does debeak their started pullets as well.... I have orderd from them numerous times. They may have changed their policy but it still states on their website that they are debeaked.

Also McMurray's started pullets are drop shipped from Meyers Hatchery. McMurray doesn't have a hand in anything with these birds... they simply advertise and collect your money. Meyers sends you the finished product.

All of my sex-link hens came with their beaks very similar to yours. It does look funny, but I've found that my girls are highly adaptable and are doing just fine.

Yeah, mine are doing really well with coping with half beaks... it takes them a few tries but they do succeed. Plus it is extremely hard for a bug to escape 250 pairs of eyes.....

were can I see more pics of your op

Well I just moved so I'm adding to my pics, I didn't have a digital camera at my old location I have just a bunch of photos in an album on the bookshelf. You can go to the website and there is some there.... but in the next few months I will be taking lots of pictures to share so keep looking for them. Like I said I just moved... going on 5 months and this is going to be my first season at this location.

For their feeding requirements I did notice that some are pretty light due to the fact their beaks probably couldn't reach deep enough into the automated feeders. Plus they were feeding a mash feed which if they can't reach it they can't get enough for proper nutrition. I've since changed them on a pelleted feed so they can get a better and more nutritious diet. Plus the supplements of the pasture really helps.​

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Here is a couple of more pics I have of the coop, which is a work in progress... needs a fresh paint job, new windows, and screen. The bottom picture is what a good *beak trim* should look like.... when done the right way I don't have a problem with it, all this does is help the birds from hurting each other. But when someone that gets on the machine *or fingernail clippers* that doesn't know what to do.... that's when you get problems.

Also some pics of the guard dogs hard at work.