Are free range chickens cruelty free?

Where debeaking of chickens takes place, it is recommended that it is done when they are between 1-10 days old, although this age range may vary with other birds. There is some indication from a study done in 1997 that trimmed birds lay larger eggs with more mass and do so at an increased rate, but consume more food. The study warns that despite these apparent advantages, debeaking should be performed with caution and careful consideration of the consequences. Debeaking birds older than this can result in complications and non-permanent trimming so the birds will have to be re-trimmed.