Question:
Hello,
I raise chickens, but they drink the eggs they lay, so I wonder if I can cut off their beaks and catheterize them so they don’t drink the eggs they lay anymore. After cutting a part of the beak off the chicken bleeds a little so we cauterize not to bleed more, and the chicken feels a little pain yes, But that’s the only way we can find them not to drink the eggs, does Halakha allow to do that or is it wrong to do it?
Answer:
If there is no other option, that is less painful to prevent the chickens from damaging your eggs it is permitted. The reason is because we are allowed to cause pain to an animal if it is needed to prevent a financial loss. This however is only if there is no other viable option, and it is an accepted thing to do.
Kesiva vchasima tova
Sources:
Binyan Tzion 1-108, Shevet Halevi 2-7, Igros Moshe E:H 4-92, Nefesh Kol Chai 8-3, conversation with author of Nefesh Kol Chai.
