1. to remove part or all of the beak from a bird, especially poultry, to prevent pecking or fighting
Usage: agricultural; veterinary

Examples

• The farmer decided to debeak the chickens to reduce aggressive behavior.
• Many commercial poultry operations debeak their birds as young chicks.
• Animal welfare advocates oppose the practice of debeaking birds.
• The veterinarian explained how to properly debeak the flock.
• Some countries have banned the routine debeaking of poultry.
• The debeaked hens showed less feather pecking behavior.