Beak trimming of laying hens to prevent pecking injuries is one of the most contentious welfare procedures in poultry production, with evidence-based assessment of both the procedure and the alternative management approaches that could replace it.
Beak trimming causes acute pain and alters a hen's ability to perform natural foraging and pecking behaviour. The infrared technique used in modern systems causes less welfare compromise than earlier hot blade methods, but still represents a painful procedure performed to compensate for housing and management systems that fail to meet hens' needs adequately. The long-term goal should be management systems where feather pecking is controlled through enrichment, appropriate stocking, and genetic selection, making beak treatment unnecessary. This is achievable in some systems but requires investment and skilled management.