Why do breeders do this?

[berlyannpotter]

That's probably what they meant when they said they did it to mark them. I really don't see anything besides a rub mark on the beak

He does have a rub mark

 

[KF0002]

Both sides of his beak. View attachment 4150808

Some breeders use nose marking, in addition to toe punching, wing banding, etc as a way to tell breeds/bloodlines apart. They use a small pair of clippers to snip out the nostril covering. It does not harm the bird any more than toe punch marking, and does not cause it any issues.

 

[KF0002]

WTH never heard of marking them that way. Some breeders punch a while in a toe but whatever is going on there…I seriously question the breeder.

We use toe punching to mark chicks, and wing bands. We have also nose marked breeds in the past. As do a lot of breeders. Some people pierce human babies' ears, but I rarely see anyone bat an eyelash about that. Yet people speak negatively of breeders using a nose mark or toe punch to mark THEIR chicks.

 

[berlyannpotter]

We use toe punching to mark chicks, and wing bands. We have also nose marked breeds in the past. As do a lot of breeders. Some people pierce human babies' ears, but I rarely see anyone bat an eyelash about that. Yet people speak negatively of breeders using a nose mark or toe punch to mark THEIR chicks.

The toe doesn't bother me. My biggest concern was that something could happen to him like get sick. However, it looks like it will not.

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

We use toe punching to mark chicks, and wing bands. We have also nose marked breeds in the past. As do a lot of breeders. Some people pierce human babies' ears, but I rarely see anyone bat an eyelash about that. Yet people speak negatively of breeders using a nose mark or toe punch to mark THEIR chicks.

I do wingbands and leg bands. Toe punching I'm find with but not going to be using it on my birds. But yeah the whole nose marking thing makes me nervous.

 

[CascadiaRiver]

I'd be scared something would get stuck. Yeah maybe not that likely but don't underestimate how dumb my birds are lol

 

[nuthatched]

Why do they Polk a whole in the upper beak. You can see it in the picture.

I got him as a chick. Its always been missing. The person I got it from stated he did it to 'mark' it.

I've never heard of this practice before.
Do be aware, most 'breeders' just hatch and sell indiscriminately without purpose, they aren't actually real breeders. Just mills.

 

[berlyannpotter]

I've never heard of this practice before.
Do be aware, most 'breeders' just hatch and sell indiscriminately without purpose, they aren't actually real breeders. Just mills.

Well, these individuals I know personally and have for years. Their Roosters sale for $800 and females can sale up to $1,500. I bought two for $5 each because of the connection. Both turned out to be roosters. One of them was aggressive towards my chicks and the other rooster so I gave him back to the individual. So, I know they are legit. People travel from states away to buy from them. Pure Sweater Rooster.

 

[berlyannpotter]

I'd be scared something would get stuck. Yeah maybe not that likely but don't underestimate how dumb my birds are lol

Bekah doesn't really get into much, but he doesn't back down from fights. The mark right above his beak is because our dachshund tried picking a fight after I gave my second rooster back. It was through the coop hardware cloth. He hurt himself. Needless to say, the dog now knows that there are consequences for messing with the chickens, and my rooster respects me more now because I did let my dog know it isn't okay. Bekah has also tried to fight a raccoon and a squirrel through his coop. If the chicks are with him, he forces them to stay under the coop, not in the run or inside the coop- sitting in the door of the coop so they cannot get past him. He is such a good rooster, and I love him very much. Which is why I am overthinking this hole in his beak. Flies and mosquitoes are really bad in our area right now. I just saw a post about Flystrike. That stuff is SCARY. I would just be distraught if anything happens to him.

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

Bekah doesn't really get into much, but he doesn't back down from fights. The mark right above his beak is because our dachshund tried picking a fight after I gave my second rooster back. It was through the coop hardware cloth. He hurt himself. Needless to say, the dog now knows that there are consequences for messing with the chickens, and my rooster respects me more now because I did let my dog know it isn't okay. Bekah has also tried to fight a raccoon and a squirrel through his coop. It the chicks are with him, he forces them to stay under the coop, not in the run or inside the coop- sitting in the door of the coop so they cannot get past him. He is such a good rooster, and I love him very much. Which is why I am overthinking this hole in his beak. Flies and mosquitoes are really bad in our area right now. I just saw a post about Flystrike. That stuff is SCARY. I would just be distraught if anything happens to him.

Mosquitoes especially. My flock has got fowl pox 2 years in a row so this year we're taking serious prevention measures to prevent it.