Eglu Cube Coop For Sale

[Pondy]

I am new to chicken keeping and would like some advice please. Do chickens need there beaks trimming? I have a bovan goldline (gingernut ranger) who has a hooked top beak, do I trim it, If so how? Do I need a vet to do it?

[Patricia W]

Not usually! Beaks are only trimmed in commercial battery type houses. For most family chickens the pecking around they do in the run and when free ranging keeps it in trim. I have had to trim the over-grown beak of one of my girls who was very badly bullied so she didn't free range as much as she should have done. Then it was done very tentatively so the top over-grown portion was in line with the bottom bit.

 

Tricia

[Snowy]

I find when they are point of lay they often have slightly long beaks as they have never free ranged. Once they start scratching about properly, they wear them into shape. If it continues to be a problem, it can be trimmed. I have seen info on the net about it - if you were confident you could do it yourself, otherwise may be best to find an experienced poultry keeper to help.

[Aggienator]

How old is you gingernut? I worried a lot about florence when we got her as her beak curved right over: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/m9E-C5101V0j2F2F3Gz7Yw?feat=directlink

 

Within a few months it was completely normal and never stopped her eating

[Pondy]

Thanks for all the helpful advice regarding beaks, I will leave well alone for now as she appears to be eating ok. She is a gingernut of approx 20-22 weeks and not yet laying, I also have an amber link approx 20 weeks not yet laying and a rhode rock (miss pepperpot) who is a few weeks older and is laying and definitely the boss!!

great to get such helpful advice almost instantly