Beak Tipping
Infra-red beak treatment involves the removal of the sharp tip from the beak of laying hens. Day old chicks are treated with an infra-red beam as part of a quick process, over in moments, after which the chicks revert to their natural behaviour. The tip of the beak then falls off around 10 days later, thereby thwarting the bird’s ability to deliver harmful pecks at other birds.
Within the commercial world, birds need to be kept in flocks of up to 16,000, and it is in these large flocks that behaviours change and can become damaging.
Birds have their beaks trimmed for one reason, and that is to prevent them from causing harm to one another; if beaks are left untrimmed there is an increased danger that feather pecking will become habitual within a large flock, which in turn can quickly lead to what is known as ‘injurious pecking’, and in a worst case scenario, multiple deaths can be caused through injury.
Feather pecking can start for a variety of reasons – it can be a feed deficiency, boredom, or it can be no particular reason at all. It takes one hen to peck one feather which draws blood, and that can attract the attention of other hens; all hens are drawn to red. Once a pattern of behaviour is established within a flock, it is very difficult to contain.
Beak trimming, sometimes incorrectly referred to as ‘de-beaking’ (which is the act of removing the beak), significantly reduces the amount the beak grows and leaves a flat, blunt end. In the wild, the upper beak of a chicken grows to a strong and pointed end, which aids the bird with feeding and self-defence against predators and other birds. If used aggressively, this part of the beak can cause significant damage. Domesticated birds, for example layer chickens and turkeys, can develop this prominent beak. Due to the possibility for these birds to use their beaks as weapons and cause extensive damage, many commercial birds now have their beaks trimmed. The aim of this is to reduce the damage the bird may be able to cause to either itself or others. In the UK, beak trimming is carried out at 1 day of age. A trained and skilled person will pass the end of the beak through an infrared beam while handling the chicks. When done correctly this will cause minimal pain and stress to the chick, and the end of the beak will subsequently drop off a few days later.
One of the main reasons for beak trimming is to reduce the incidences and severity of feather pecking. Feather pecking can occur due to a number of reasons, but it is most commonly associated with feed deficiencies, boredom and the establishment of social hierarchy in the houses. Trimming the beak reduces the severity of any injuries caused by pecking. This is particularly important as wounds caused by feather pecking can provide routes of infection and lead to increased mortality and reduced production due to disease occurring in the houses. Infections due to E.coli can be frequently linked to feather pecking injuries. Chickens are sensitive to the colour red, and injuries caused by feather pecking that bleed, can promote further pecking. Subsequently, if enough birds begin feather pecking and for a prolonged period, then this negative behaviour can become ingrained into the birds. If this occurs, then it can become very difficult to combat and correct the behaviour which can lead to extensive issues and harm to the birds, especially if it begins at a young age.
As boredom can be a cause attributed to pecking, it is essential to ensure adequate enrichment is provided to negate this and support the overall wellbeing of the birds. Pecking blocks can be a good, natural aid to beak trimming as they help to blunt and wear down the end of the beak and provide additional enrichment for the birds.
To best prevent feather pecking we would advise a combined approach of beak trimming and working closely with your vet to provide a thorough enrichment and welfare plan as the most effective solution to dealing with the issue.
