Beak trimming

Farrier1987 · Post by **Farrier1987** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 8:59 am

I have never found a reason to trim a beak. What is the reason for it? I have a few hens three or four years old, and all my birds completely free range. Does it wear down with natural use like a dog's claws? Are the ones that need trimming on mash instead? I got some hatchery chicks a few years ago that were trimmed like the pic, and I don't like it.

Oh, above is sort of wrong. I did trim a few that were egg eaters. Broken eggs and yolk on the beak. Caught them ane took them to the grinder and blunted the point of the beak so they couldn't peck through the shells, seemed to do the trick.

G Williams · Post by **G Williams** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 9:34 am

I've never trimmed a beak. Had hens up to 7 years old

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 1:55 pm

I would not touch it, the bottom beak when you trim it bleed like crazy plus you might inadvertently clip it's tongue!!

I have only trimmed top beaks as I have had some over the years had them grow so long like a parrot beak that they were not able to eat properly. I never trimmed back that far like the picture you have shown, but just enough for it to match the bottom beak. I am soooo careful.

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Sun Apr 17, 2016 8:24 pm

I have never had a bird that needed a Bottom beak trim.
All the birds I've done had a long upper beak.
My Polish hen has an upper beak that grows like crazy.
( her nails also need a trim when I do the beak )

I do the "minimum" & decide After I've watched the bird eat, IF it should have been done more.
Like I said "less is best" ( but I've noticed that a Hawk Beak bird seems to weigh Less than the other girls )