Sooo much pooping

[PixieDust]

My friend lost her Light Sussex called Dixie a couple of weeks ago. Dixie was 5. So I said I would go with her when she got another girl. She lives where I used to live in Surrey, so went to a poultry place near her.

 

Compared to where I got mine, this place was poultry heaven! They had large paddocks sectioned off with different poultry in. No real smell. All the chickens effectively free ranged if they chose. Food and water pots everywhere so if they free ranged away from their paddock, they had ample access to clean food and water.

 

The only downside came when we caught my friend's new cuckoo marans. Whilst examining her and checking for Lice I noticed her beak had been clipped. Upon inspection of the other hybrids I noticed around 80% of them we also clipped to varying degrees. I told my friend and said she must ask about it. She did and the lady said the breeder was clipping them in case of pecking damage. She didn't know it how the breeder did it. Unfortunately my friend excepted this and was happy to purchase Trixie, (or Cookie as I call her), but I said to the lady I personally wouldn't buy POL hybrids with a clipped beak. The lady agreed and said they had had complaints from other people who disregarded all those with clipped beaks and she had complained to the breeder who said it would change next year!!!!! The lady said she was unhappy about it but told us if a bully chicken was noticed by them they clip the beak to stop them causing damage to any hen.

 

Not having the time to Google I couldn't argue anything when the lady said to my friend not to worry and that the beak would grow back.

 

Real shame as the place was clean, spacious and the hens all seemed very happy. Sort of place I would have put on my list but not if beaks are clipped. I fell in love with a Vorwerk hen who wasn't clipped though I didn't bring her home

 

Apparently the breeder is in Yorkshire.

[PixieDust]

No one have any info on clipped beaks and regrowth?

 

Anyone else come across POL hybrids with clipped beaks?

 

Anyone else like Vorwerks?

[Cat tails]

I don't think clipped beaks grow back. If they were clipped when they were chicks (which is most common) then you would expect that the beaks would have grown back when they are POL. If at all that is.

 

Once clipped, chickens can grow very old with those beaks and are perfectly able to eat and preen. But personally I wouldn't actively choose to get a chicken with a clipped beak. Beak clipping is still under very strong debate and there are enough researchers suggesting that it is very traumatic to a chicken. Check out this Wikipedia article on the topic.

[PixieDust]

Thanks Cat Tails.

 

I felt very uncomfortable about it but to be fair, when my friend asked she was open about it. Real shame because they were healthy looking birds and in such a nicer environment than the place that I got mine from.