Chicks were either beak trimmed at 6 days of age with a 2.8 mm gauge, or at 11 weeks of age with a block cut approximately 2 mm anterior to the nasal openings. Two hours after beak trimming at 6 days of age, corticosterone levels were higher than they were prior to beak trimming. Body weight and feed consumption were depressed until 8 weeks of age. Beak trimming at 11 weeks of age caused an increase in corticosterone concentration compared to controls, and feed consumption and body weight decreased. Feed consumption at 72 weeks of age for non-trimmed birds was greater than both beak trimmed treatments. Whereas, the beak trimmed birds resulted in better egg income, feed cost per hen, and net income. Both beak trimmed birds had better feather scores and less fearfulness. The results of this study suggest that the birds adjusted to beak trimming and had better performance than non-beak trimmed birds.