verb
- to remove part or all of the beak from a bird, especially poultry, to prevent pecking or fighting
Usage: agricultural; veterinary
Examples
- The farmer debeaks the chickens to prevent them from injuring each other.
- Many commercial poultry operations debeak their birds as a standard practice.
- The veterinarian debeaks the aggressive roosters to reduce fighting.
- Animal welfare groups oppose the practice of debeaking poultry.
- The hatchery debeaks day-old chicks using specialized equipment.
- Some farmers choose not to debeak their free-range chickens.