Trimed beaks ??

[chickenfeathers]

When we lived in Pennsylvania, we had chickens with trimmed beaks. I wouldn't recommend it.

They looked very strange & had difficulty picking up food.

P.S.

The beaks don't grow back.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Now I'm sad. Our latest pullet came with a clipped beak and I assumed it would grow back. The regular girls look better and seem to eat better. This raises a question for me because her trimmed beak is slightly crosses. Am I going to have to keep trimming it to align it.

Karen

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

I don't think I'd like the looks of beaks cut off like that.
I'm glad you mentioned trimming beaks, tho. I have a blind pullet that needs her beak trimmed (not cut off, just trimmed) 'cause she doesn't do a whole lot of pecking in the dirt like the others do.

Lisa

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Lately we have had a pecking problem We have twenty hens and two roos Even the roos are pecked The farmer where we got them said to trim their peaks to stop the pecking . Has anyone ever heard of that? If they are trimed (not cut) will they grow back Micki

 

[chickbea]

mom'sfolly - If your bird's beak is also slightly crossed, she may have had a birth deformity. In that case, trimming is done to help the bird eat more comfortably. You may indeed need to learn how to trim it yourself as she grows.
In your case, it sounds like it might have been done for this reason, which is a reasonable management practice. Just keep an eye on her and make sure she is getting enough food. She may need you to give her a little time alone with the food so that she doesn't have to fight off the others as well as deal with the trouble of getting the food into her mouth. She may not be able to eat out of a traditional feeder hole either.
You shouldn't breed from this bird, but the problem doesn't affect egg production or anything else. She'll just be your little special girl!

 

[Mr.Dad]

Quote:
Thanks chickbea....

I was sorry to hear mom'sfolly's story.....I'm happy to read you could help her out......

 

[Lunachick]

Uh Oh, I think mine might come that way. Is it that weird looking? Can they still peck normally? Sh*t, I wonder if I'm gonna like this..Mr. Dad, where did you find out about this and what place was it?

 

[Mr.Dad]

Quote:
I guess some people don't mind it....I get the feeling they sell a lot of pullets that way....the hatcheries I mean......

I read about it somewhere....may have even been here....I've been craming chicken info the past couple months

.......

My big problem with it goes further than just the chicken itself or the looks of it.....I'm tired of the human race (some of us, not all

) putting our (meaning them not us

) "We know what's good for you" stamp on everything we (saa) touch....

The farm I was buying them from doesn't do it....but the hatchery/ies they deal with sometimes do.....so rather than wait to find out I'm moving on.....

I'd call your source and ask them....

I really hope I don't rub salt in anyones wounds with this thread....but I thought some of us could learn from it....

 

[Gracefulspice]

2 hens we adopted from the neighbor lady have cut beaks. Looks horrible. Scoot Mouth my husband calls them. But they are more aggressive then my other 4 hens and do peck at them regulary to remind of pecking order. So in a sence I am glad that the beaks are trimmed on those 2 cause I feel if they wern't my other girls would have wounds.

I just took a picture so you can see how bad this looks.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Thanks for the info. She seems to eat well and takes the treats easily. She older than the other three, so its harder to tell if she is growing slower or faster. If I can get her to hold still, I'll take a picture. And then I need my 9-year-old to upload the photos.

I love the raptorial look of a natural beak, especially as the go for a bug.