Six to Eight Day Beak Trimming

Eighteen Week Old Pullet Trimmed With This Method

Guide Plate Used for Beak Trimming Hole sizes 11/64, 10/64 and 9/64 inches. Select best size hole for the beak size. Slightly more than half of the beak should extend through the hole.

Motorized Cam Foreground Motor controlled cam Cam operates on 1500 cycle/hour Blade down time is just over 2 seconds

Cam Position Position of cam on beak trimmer. The brown bar on the bottom is the touch switch to activate the cam.

Trimming Position Forefinger is held under the throat to apply a slight pressure back and downward to hold the tongue back.

Positioning Chick For Trimming The thumb must apply a gentle but firm pressure on the back of the head to hold the beak in the guide plate.

Trimming Position Insert beak into the hole with a gentle pressure holding tongue back with index finger.

Trimming Chick Chick in left hand will be trimmed next. Left hand steadies right hand during trimming. Touch plate below chick starts trimming cycle.

Trimming A Chick This machine is equipped with a foot control switch preferred by some trimmers. Note angle of head during trimming.

Chick After Trimming

Catching Chicks Net used to catch chicks from a floor pen. Chicks must be handled gently to avoid injury.

Brooder Ring Divided By A Catching Frame For Gentle Catching

Catching & Positioning Chicks Catcher gently drops chicks into a box positioned at a comfortable height for the trimmer at right. Box has raised wire sides to prevent chick escape.

Dropping Chicks Chicks are dropped onto a box covered with soft excelsior pads to prevent injury.

Trimmer at Work One catcher can usually supply chicks for up to four trimmers. This trimmer is using a foot controlled switch.

Crew of Three Workers Can Trim 11,000 Chicks in this House in Nine Hours

Six to Eight Day Beak Trimming Cauterizing blade should be cherry red during trimming to prevent re-growth of beak

This Powerpoint Presentation was produced by Ralph Ernst, Extension Poultry Specialist, Department of Animal Science, University of California Using Slides from a UC Cooperative Extension Slide Set Authored by Ervin Bramhall, Farm Advisor, Retired.