Do Chickens need their toenail trimmed?

[rebbetzin]

One of my chickens has really long toenails. Maybe she is not scratching in the dirt enough? Anyhow, should I trim them?

 

[fasbendera]

I was going to post the same question. My dad took my bantam and the eggs I ordered to his house to hatch and he trimmed her nails. I never thought of that I just figured they wear down with all the scratching they do. Hope someone answers.

 

[possumqueen]

You can clip your chicken's toenails. Use a dog nail clipper, just like on a dog.

Just be careful not to trim them too short. They have a quick, like the dog nails, and it will bleed. If you quick one accidently, you can dip the nail in Knox plain gelatin powder to make it stop.

I I think you can clip a rooster's spurs, too. I know someone who does it, just to blunt them. Seems like a good idea to me.

 

[billyb]

Yes you can. I just a silkie hen today off Craigslist, and her toenails were very over grown. So I just trimmed them with rabbit, or dog clippers. She was fine.