Debeaking Debeaking , also called beak trimming, is often used in commercial farms to prevent cannibalism and feather-picking.
Some sources recommend it for small flocks as well.
It involves cutting off part or all of the top beak. Some hatcheries de-beak the chicks the day they are hatched. Others debeak their chickens at the first signs of feather-picking. I do not support de-beaking for a number of reasons. Debeaking is painful to the chicken.