Effect of Day-Old Debeaking on the Performance of Pullets

Abstract

As the practice of day-old debeaking becomes more widespread for broiler production (Darrow and Stotts, 1954; Camp et al. 1955; and others), there is increasing interest in the effect of debeaking of pullet chicks which will ultimately be used in egg-production flocks. Commonly asked questions are: Will debeaking hinder growth or lengthen age to sexual maturity? Will debeaking increase or reduce mortality? Will debeaking increase the percentage of culls at housing time? The trial reported herein was conducted in an effort to help answer these questions.MATERIALS AND RESULTSOn March 9, 1955, newly hatched New Hampshire pullets at the South Dakota State College Agricultural Experiment Station were randomly separated into three groups. Group 1 consisted of 218 chicks which were untreated. One-hundred-eleven group 2 chicks had ⅓ of the upper and lower beaks removed. One-half of the upper beak only was removed from 108 group 3 chicks. There were …