a general guide to beak trimming game birds and duck debilling - Lyon

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Bulletin 281-145 Page Two EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT IN BEAK TRIMMING: The costliest error in beak trimming is the use of excessive or prolonged heat, especially when doing severe beak trimming. The heated blade is primarily used to cut the beak and sear the surface to stop bleeding. The application of too much heat may result in a ball like growth on the beak that is tender. This can be painful to the bird when eating and drinking and cause the bird's death. Never use more heat than necessary to do the job. ABOUT BLEEDERS: BLEEDING AFTER BEAK TRIMMING DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN BLADE TEMPERATURE WAS TOO LOW. Some birds naturally bleed as the result of trauma, however, some bleeding is better than unnecessary and excessive burning. There are other factors that can cause bleeding. If the bird is under stress prior to beak trimming its blood pressure will be higher. Some avian medication will thin the blood and contribute to bleeding. It is a good idea to check with your veterinarian regarding this and seek his advice relative to removal of medication for a period prior to beak trimming. Also, consider giving the birds vitamin K for a couple of days prior to beak trimming to reduce bleeding potential. Water intake could possibly raise blood pressure thus contributing to bleeding, do not allow the birds to drink water 1-2 hours prior to beak trimming. Consultation with a good veterinarian is advised and the period of water restriction might vary for different species of birds. BEAK TRIMMING DAY-OLD QUAIL BEAK TRIMMING DAY-OLD QUAIL: This method of beak trimming was developed by H.R. Wilson, M.G. Miller and C.R. Douglas at the Poultry Science Department, University of Florida whose permission to print this method is gratefully acknowledged. This method involves the use of a plain, slightly red hot flat blade on the Debeaker® (K or KH Blade). The chick's head is held so that the tongue will be pulled back into the mouth. (Using the forefinger to apply a SLIGHT pressure to the throat helps, but not enough to cause the lower beak to be withdrawn.) The head is held level and the beak pointed squarely and directly at the blade. The beak is quickly touched to the hot blade and burned so that most or all of the lighter colored tip of the upper beak is burned. Both beaks are seared approximately 1/4 of the beak length. If the egg tooth is present prior to trimming, only about .5mm of it will remain after this operation. This will result in a smaller amount of the lower beak being trimmed, with both beaks ending at the same length. If the beak is held to the blade too long, blisters may occur; or the chick may in some cases breathe the hot super heated air around the blade causing respiratory damage. Remember that a Quail chick has the capability of moving the upper beak to some extent and will pull it down resulting in a disproportionate burning of the lower beak. This method works well and results in a permanently shortened beak (this shortening will not be obvious to the untrained eye). Observation throughout the bird's growth will illustrate how debeaked birds look at all stages of growth. QUAIL UPPER BEAK REMOVAL QUAIL UPPER BEAK REMOVAL: This method uses the Lyon IR-Game Bird Attachment to remove a portion of the bird's upper beak. At 6 weeks of age when the birds are moved to the grow-out pen, remove 1/3 of the upper beak. If pecking is a problem at an earlier stage and you do not wish to use the touch-sear method described above, you can remove 1/16" (the upper bill hook) at an earlier date. The bird should be at least three weeks old before upper beak removal is accomplished. Prior to three weeks of age the beak will not be long enough to properly trim and cauterize. If the bird's beak is trimmed by this method too early, beak regrowth will almost always require touch up trimming later.
Bulletin 281-145 Page Three CHUKAR PARTRIDGE: Chukars are normally not beak trimmed as chicks. If pecking becomes a serious problem prior to the normal time to beak trim, growers often remove only 1/16" or the hook on the upper beak. Chukars are most commonly beak trimmed at 8 weeks of age when they are moved to grow-out pens. Approximately 1/2 of the upper beak is removed. It may be done again just before they go into the laying season. Sometimes a small percentage of Chukars will have problems from beak trimming. The beaks will grow back crooked or extra long and require a touch up trim. Also, should the upper beak grow back as a hook over the lower beak the upper must be clipped so the bird can eat and drink comfortably. PHEASANT BEAK TRIMMING: Notch beak trimming of Pheasant chicks at day-old can be a very effective tool in reducing pecking for the first 3 to 5 weeks of age. There are 2 ways to notch Debeak. One way is to use a BHT Attachment with an IRXW blade on the Debeaker® with a foot pedal or power unit. The height screws are adjusted so that the notch is 1/4 to 1/3 back on the beak and notches through to a depth 2/3 of the beak. The other method of notching is to use a Debeaker® with the height of the blade fixed so it doesn’t move and a standard beak support. The height of the blade is fixed at a point so that when the beak is gently pushed into the space between the blade and the beak support the beak has a burned notch 1/3 back from the point of the beak to a depth of 2/3 of the upper beak thickness. When beaks are properly notched the end will fall off in 6 to 14 days. If severe notching is done too far back on the bird it may be permanently debeaked. When Pheasants are 8-10 weeks old, they are beak trimmed again by removing 1/3 to 1/2 of the upper beak only. The IR-GB Game Bird Attachment is used for this beak trimming. Flight birds should never be severely beak trimmed as they may be unable to forage for themselves in the wild. Try to obtain upper beak growth back to a point that both upper and lower beaks are at least the same length before releasing them as flight birds. In the past there has been a method used to beak trim chicks when they are one day old by touching the upper beak against a flat K or KH blade on the Debeaker®. Both upper and lower beaks are seared about 1/4 of the way from the tip. Care should be exercised using this method to not over sear the beak. Also, make sure the beak trim operation is done quickly to protect the bird from inhaling super heated air radiating from the blade. PHEASANT PRECISION BLOCK DEBEAKING: (See illustration on page 4) Some producers have been block debeaking (beak trimming) breeders. This is done in the same manner that precision block debeaking of chickens is done (between 6-10 days old). The forefinger is used to slightly withdraw the lower beak and tongue. When the beak trimming is done, the lower beak will be slightly longer than the upper beak.
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a general guide to beak trimming game birds and duck debilling - Lyon

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