No beak trimming of laying hens

Eggs from organic production

Beak trimming of laying hens or the parent generation does not occur in Sweden, Finland or Norway but is very common in other European countries. The market availability of shell eggs fulfilling the criterion is good. For other product categories, the market availability is more limited. 

Beak trimming means that larger or smaller parts of the beak are removed, which is done as a preventive measure to reduce problems like feather pecking and cannibalism, which in turn may contribute to increased mortality. With a shortened beak, the hens cannot reach in to peck feathers and peck each other to the same extent. At the same time, there is a risk that the beak trimming causes suffering to the chicken/hen, as the beak also contains nerves.

According to Directive 1999/74/EC, laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens, the Member States may grant permission to trim the beak of chickens that are not older than 10 days if the purpose is to prevent feather pecking or cannibalism, if the chickens are intended for egg-laying and if this operation is performed by qualified personnel (Appendix paragraph 8).

Beak trimming is common in other European countries, but has long been banned in Sweden and does not occur in Finland or Norway, for example. Measures such as early access to litter in the breeding, optimal lighting, entertainment, the right feed composition and maintenance of the litter reduces the risk of feather pecking. Both research and practical results show that this is effective.

The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.