Cutting chicken's Toenails

[Haley Clark]

She definitely has scaly leg mites! It is terrible and I feel so bad for her because it has to hurt! I'm. Going to use Vaseline, do you apply it every day?

 

[Gramma5]

Ok, this is the first I've read of having to clip my chickens toenails! Is this something that has to be done regularly, like with my dogs?

 

[StephieSky]

Yes! Even if you can't wash her legs every single day make sure you keep them smothered in vaseline or dipped in oil every single day. You want to smother the mite infestation out! They burrow in under the scales and the reason the scales are so gnarly is the build up of deterius from the mites living under her scales.

If at all possible, wash her feet and legs with hot water for a 3 to 5 minute soak daily. I use an old water bath canner out back. The water just hot enough it feels hot to me but not burning. After her soak take a clean wash cloth and gently massage her legs and toes. Gracie loves this part! Liza hates the whole procedure beginnning to end.
It has taken abt. a week before my two softened up enough for the old scales to start rolling off. They're soft now and kind of gross. Just don't peel them off unless they come off easy or you'll leave a raw spot.

Use bacitracin ointment on any raw spots.
The purpose of the weekly soap & water wash and scrub, according to the vet is to make certain you don't have any necrosis or rot under the scales.

Look up my other post: long term mites on the mend hopefully
There are pictures of Gracie and Liza's feet and how they are improving. Its kind of gross and looks terrible but they really are better now than when they were dried out hard and getting eaten alive from inside the hardened scales.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Ok, this is the first I've read of having to clip my chickens toenails! Is this something that has to be done regularly, like with my dogs?

No. Most hens will scratch around all day long and wear down their own nails so it is not usually an issue. Every once in awhile you may get a hen who doesn't scratch around as much who made need a trim. Certain breeds, like silkies, don't really scratch so they made need it more. It will be noticeable it there is an issue. I trim my silikies maybe once a year and my other breeds never.

 

[bantyhen]

My broody hen, Coffee has pretty long nails, but I think it's because she has been setting for so long. She hasn't worn them down for a while.