Do chickens need their bills filed? (Chipping nail)

[Bluestem]

My girls are not free range at the moment, and I've noticed that several of them are getting little chips in the front of their bills and along the sides. It's not gone into the nail, but I was wondering if they need something rough in the coop to keep the nail filed down, or if I should manually do it for them. Would a piece of sandstone or brick help them? They haven't had much grit as they've only been eating their starter/grower feed.

I first noticed the chipped nail when I bought them a heated waterer that has metal pegs they have to peck to get the water out. Could the combination of too-long nail on the bill, plus the metal pegs be causing the chips on their bills? These are my first hens, so I just want to make sure that I'm not messing something major up. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Abriana]

They should have rocks to swipe their beaks on, brick would also work.

 

[Bluestem]

They should have rocks to swipe their beaks on, brick would also work.

Thank you, I'll grab a brick to put in there!

 

[aart]

The beak is basically the 'nail'.
You are using horizontal nipple waterers?
How old are these birds?

 

[Bluestem]

I guess by nail, I mean the very most tip where there's no live tissue. The birds are about 3 and a half months old, and they've been using a horizontal nipple waterer.

 

[aart]

Hopefully they get more adept at using the nipples...
...haven't ever really seen chipped beaks from HN's.