The Effect of Delayed Placement and Day-Old Debeaking on the Performance of White Leghorn Pullets

S.C. White Leghorn pullets were placed on feed and water on the day of hatching or 1 or 2 days after the day of hatching. Precision block type debeaking was performed with a Lyon’s electric debeaker immediately before feeding and watering. Debeaking at the time of placement significantly reduced body weight at 25 days, 22, and 51 weeks of age. The fact that the reduction in body weight persisted through 51 weeks of age would indicate that it was a permanent effect. Age at first egg was significantly delayed in the debeaked pullets. No effect was noted on egg size or egg production. Delaying placement for 2 days produced a significant reduction in body weight at 25 days of age that was equal to the debeaking effect. However, as the pullets grew older the placement effect grew less pronounced so that at 22 weeks of age the chicks delayed in placement by 2 days were only 3% lighter than their controls. At 51 weeks of age there was no difference between these groups. Delayed placement pullets did not differ from their controls in days to sexual maturity, egg weight or egg production. Neither debeaking, delayed placement or a combination of the two increased mortality. Non-debeaked controls housed two to a cage had significantly more mortality than debeaked pullets. The placing of 2 stresses on White Leghorn pullets did not increase mortality, but the double stress was noticeable in 3 week and 22 week body weights. The birds which were debeaked and placed 2 days after hatching were lighter in body weights than any other combination groups. The two effects were additive.