Trimed beaks ??

[Llysse]

Oh, I didn't take it as a rant at all (if you thought I was referring to you)

I was just sort of wanting to steer MYSELF away from posting pictures or detailed descriptions of the process, because those sorts of threads generally get locked. I don't think there's a problem in sharing one's opinion about it, though. Frankly, I don't think most of us backyard chicken keepers would need (or would be interested in) such a thing for our birds. It's mostly used in factory farming when the birds are stressed and confined to little cages--not when they have access to coop space, sunlight, the outdoors and a run.

I think that's why cannibalism/pecking issues on this forum so often get posted in emergency threads... people are surprised when it happens; it's unusual for our birds when they have plenty of space and aren't as stressed out. If we were factory farmers, we probably wouldn't be surprised at all; we'd just take it as a matter of course.

 

[skeeter9]

I have to agree with Mr Dad, I think we should leave animals as nature made them.

Seems to me that a chicken's beak is made perfectly for the functions it serves. After watching my chickens I think they would have a harder time catching bugs and pecking things off the ground, as well as protecting themselves if their beaks were trimmed.

Of course, like you guys, my chickens are not being raised in overcrowded invironments and I'm not trying to raise as many as I can to make money, so pecking is not an issue.

Lori