Clipping and trimming

[ellie32526]

I don't have chickens yet but I' m reading everything I can trying to learn a lot before I get my new flock in Spring. I keep reading stuff about trimming beaks and clipping nails. Can someone tell me what that's all about? How often do you have to do that? How do I learn to do that?

 

[Chefswifey]

I don't have chickens yet but I' m reading everything I can trying to learn a lot before I get my new flock in Spring. I keep reading stuff about trimming beaks and clipping nails. Can someone tell me what that's all about? How often do you have to do that? How do I learn to do that?

you dont need to do either... as long as they have an area where they can scratch in the ground with their feet for bugs it'll keep their nails an ok length... and the beak never needs to be touched unless they can't properly eat because their beak is misaligned...very rarely happens...and if it does, it involves sanding not clipping... the nails only need to be clipped if they're affecting how the chicken walks or stopping them from being able to do normal chicken functions.

 

[ellie32526]

Thank you that is comforting. I was a little concerned about having to trim a beak or clip nails. I'd like my chicken raising to be as natural as possible so I'm going to interfere as little as necessary

 

[Sally Sunshine]

you'll be fine, I have rocks as well as cement block in the run and when I snack them I put it on the blocks, but naturally they will rub, its only on occation you need to do this. Nails depends on scratching area.....

Its really not a big deal if you need to do it anyway, even trimming a Roo's spurs is easy IF NEED DONE!
here are my save links on the issues....
http://chickenbreedslist.com/Trimming-Your-Chicken's-Beak.html

Trimming Chickens Spurs & Toenails http://ultimatefowl.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/199/