4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[urbanchick]

I got my last hens from a Meadowsweet agent and I noticed they were all debeaked to some degree. I was concerned about this and actually had to keep rejecting hens he'd picked for me because the beaks looked split. I took home the best ones and rang Meadowsweet to mention it.

 

Anyway my fears are confirmed now as one month on my bluebell has lost a chunk of her beak. I had noticed a split in it recently, from the de beaking I'm sure, but now it looks awful. Here's a pic:

 

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/634294018_xhmFF-L.jpg (password is chicken)

 

Is it harmful or distressing to her? Will it grow back??

 

I will be compaining again to Meadowsweet and definitely won't be buying any more of their hens ever again.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Poor girl . I've no experience myself but I'm sure there are quite a few hens on the forum with similar beaks and people have said it doesn't bother the hens at all. I can't quite remember if they grow back or not (I'm thinking possibly but don't quote me!)

[Egluntyne]

One of my girls had a shovel like beak, the bottom one just out further than the top. It eventually grew out.

 

I agree that you should let Meadowsweet know your thoughts on the matter.

[Ms Tilytinkle]

Ah bless her, none of mine were debeaked & didnt see any which were either.

Sorry for silly queries but why do they do that ? .. do they do it simply for all of the chickens whilst all together before selling or just ones which seem to peck.

Hope it repairs itself . . hmm think I would be concerned too & have to say something to them - at least ask why they have such problems and need to debeak their chooks. Wonder if they bring in their chickens from various breeders?

 

Ms Tilyhopesyourchickensbeakbecomesanormalbeak

[Ms Tilytinkle]

One of OH work acquaintances popped in today & spotted our girlies free ranging. He said it reminded him of many many years ago when his family used to farm, they used to have hundreds of chickens roaming, supplying all local cafe's resturants etc with eggs

Anyway- after many different conversations he said one job his father used to give him was debeaking when necessary & how he hated doing it . . apparently it's a specific machine Bless their little souls

 

Ms Tillychookshavejustgonetobeddybyes..hesaidthatswhentheyusedtodoit,atnight!

[urbanchick]

Wonder if they bring in their chickens from various breeders?

Yes the farmer mentioned they came from different countries, one of the flocks (amber star I think) was imported from Poland. It's made me think harder about where I buy hens from in future. I had assumed the well known name was enough of a reassurance.

 

I still want to know how common it is for pullets to be routinely debeaked. I thought the practice would be confined to battery hens.