Beak trimming — removal of part of the beak — is routinely performed on laying hens and turkeys to prevent injurious pecking, but raises significant welfare concerns of its own.
Beak trimming is a procedure that causes both acute pain during the procedure and, in some cases, chronic pain from damaged nerve endings (neuromas). It is performed not to benefit the bird but to manage a behavior that arises from welfare-poor housing conditions. Addressing the root causes of injurious pecking — density, light levels, enrichment, and diet — can reduce or eliminate the need for beak trimming.