Alteration procedure
Debeaking Machine
Hot-blade beak amputation
What it is
A blade, hot surface, or infrared system removes or destroys the tip of a bird's beak, usually early in life.
Where it sits in the system
Birds in dense commercial flocks peck and injure each other. Rather than change the density, the industry removes the part of the bird that does the damage.
Welfare concern
The beak is a sensory organ full of nerves. Cutting it causes acute pain and disrupts feeding, and severe or inaccurate removal leaves the bird in chronic pain.
Worth being precise about
Injurious pecking is a real problem, and producers cite it for good reason. Genetics, lighting, stocking density, enrichment and flock management can reduce the risk that leads to the blade.
