What are the technical points for beak trimming in free-range chickens?

  Beak trimming is the most effective measure to prevent pecking vice in flocks, and it can also reduce feed costs. 

   The time for beak trimming in free-range chickens is from 10 days to 15 days of age; at this time beak trimming will not cause a strong stress response. Free-range chickens are relatively small and should not be beak-trimmed too early; generally only 1 beak trimming is done per rearing cycle. This is because during the growing period, free-range chickens are mostly kept under an open system and are often fed vegetables and green grass, so they need beaks of a certain length. 

   Before beak trimming, the health status of the flock should first be checked; sick chickens and weak chickens should be picked out and raised separately, and trimmed after they recover their health. 

   It should be noted that the flock cannot be beak-trimmed during the immunization period or when environmental temperatures are unsuitable. For 3 days before and after beak trimming, 20 grams of vitamin B should be added to each ton of feed to help blood clotting, and the content of other vitamins should also be increased by 2 times at the same time. After beak trimming, if any chickens have bleeding beak tips, they should be cauterized again in time to stop the bleeding. After beak trimming, the water troughs and feed troughs should be filled full to prevent the injured beaks from hitting the water troughs and feed troughs. For 2 days to 3 days before and after beak trimming, electrolytic multivitamins should be added to the drinking water to prevent stress, at a dosage of 0.05 kg per 100 kg of water. 

   For beak trimming, it is best to use a special beak trimmer, such as a foot-pedal beak trimmer. The trimming length is 1/2 to 2/3 of the upper beak removed and 1/3 of the lower beak removed (from the nostril to the tip of the beak). When trimming, wait until the blade is heated to brownish red, hold the chicken with your hands, press your thumb against the back of the chicken's head, press your index finger against the chicken's lower jaw and gently press the throat so that the chicken's head cannot sway left and right, and at the same time make the chicken retract its tongue. The beak trimming time is about 1 second to 2 seconds. Each beak trimming blade can trim 100,000 chicks.