Erlaubnis zum Kürzen der Schnabelspitzen von Legehennen und Nutzgeflügel Erteilung

Do you need to shorten the tips of the shanks to protect your poultry, for example due to feather pecking or cannibalism? Then permission from the competent authority is required.

According to the Animal Welfare Act, a permit from the competent authority is required to shorten the beak tip of poultry. This is done at the request of the livestock owner and is limited in time.

In principle, however, beak shortening should be avoided, as the beak is considered to be very sensitive and the shortening can also lead to the formation of poultry tails.

The written application must be accompanied by the following

• the credible demonstration of the indispensability of the procedure by means of a veterinary certificate,
• details of the intended method of beak trimming
• Proof of competence of the persons carrying out the procedure

Permission may only be granted if it can be credibly demonstrated that the intervention is essential for the protection of the animals with regard to the intended use, for example feather pecking or cannibalism.

Permission to shorten the beak tips of laying hens and poultry is possible in exceptional cases.

Please contact the veterinary and food inspection offices of the districts and independent cities:

Written application required