Effects of beak trimming and floor type on feed consumption and body weight of pullets during rearing.

Ten replicates per treatment of pullets of a brown egg laying strain were housed in groups of 12 chickens each on litter or wire floors. Designated treatments were beak trimmed at 45 days of age. Total feed consumption and body weight at 17 weeks were measured. Birds reared on litter were significantly lighter, and total feed consumption was significantly less compared with those reared on wire. Body weight and total feed consumption of birds with untrimmed beaks were significantly higher than beak-trimmed birds.