Poor things! Advice for debeaked pullets I got today

[embkm]

I have some ex-battery Leghorn hens that were not only horribly de-beaked, but dubbed as well. When I first saw them, I was in tears. Even my hubby felt sorry for them. They aren't friendly, but they at least act like normal chickens now. I have noticed that they seem to prefer pellets to crumbles because the slightly bigger pieces are easier for them to pick up.

 

[hencam]

Debeaked hens can't groom themselves. Chickens need the pointy end to flatten feathers and peck at lice. You'll want to be vigilant about watching for external parasites. Make sure they have loose dirt for dust bathing, and don't hesitate to use a chemical if the lice get bad.

 

[JLS]

Quote:
Thank you for this advice! I would not have even thought of that. As a matter of fact I do have plenty of dirt for bathing. I have them isolated in the dog run right now which doesn't have dirt but I have checked them for lice...they are clean

In fact they are very soft. They have never had contact with dirt in their lives...yet

I cannot wait to see them experience the delight of dust bathing!!

Oh, I almost forgot...Beatrice laid her first egg today and her sister ate from my hand today too!!!

 

[drdoolittle]

It's so sad they were debeaked, but now they have a wonderful home with you! I don't understand the use of this in today's world, or of dubbing. My son had entered several chickens in the 4-H fair, including a pair of game chickens. The judge would have given him first place for those two except for one thing----the rooster wasn't dubbed! He suggested we dub him for the next year, and then proceeded to explain how to do it! I was very shocked that the 4-H club would want you to do something so cruel to any animal!

 

[mmaddie's mom]

ok... i'm stupid... what is dubbing?

 

[dragonlair]

I recently got 3 hens who had been de-beaked, they came from a commercial plant. I'm guessing they are 18 months or so. You have to look closely to notice the de-beaking job since the beaks and been worn down so they are almost even and pointed. The are readily able to eat pellets, crumbles, scratch, bird seed and vegetation. While I would never de-beak a bird, it's not the end of the world if they come that way.

 

[dragonlair]

Dubbing is when they cut the combs off newly hatched chicks.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Quote:
... and this is for showing! You can't show a dog if he is missing ANY natural body part... wierd!

 

[forest42]

Okay, so I also got this week two apprently debeaked chickens. One is cut very short, but she seems ok. The other her bottom beak is a lot longer than the other. We were thinking of trimming that one so at least they were even as she doesn't look too comfortable...but then I was reading it might help her to pick up food better?
Leave it alone or trim it even ?-Please advise!
--Erin

 

[awheel11]

I picked up two frizzle cochin bantams at a sale once. Those sad eyes got me again

but they were also debeaked. Not too terribly short on the top so its not as deformed looking as others. The bottom beak was extremely grown out on them though. It was a flat shovel on the bottom. They couldn't eat grass, just used the shovels to scoop up crumble. I took a fingernail clipper and carefully clipped back those horrible shovels. They can eat so much easier now and LOVE being able to freerange for the first time! It worked great for me forest42, just be sure not to hit the actual living part of the beak so there is no more pain involved. You can see the pale yellow is different from the darker one. My cochins felt no pain, and it made them much happier!

JLS, thanks for taking care of the girls! I'm sure they'll come around to you, just takes time