Do I Need To Clip Chicken's Nails?

[Devyn Nagy]

My chicken's nails are getting pretty long. Do you think I need to clip them, or will the ends just break off eventually? If so, what clipper should I use?

 

[CluckerFamily]

I have used a dog nail clippers before.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If they're excessively long you can use dog/cat nail trimmers, and/or an emery board to file them down. Be aware there's a quick in there, you want to avoid nicking that as it bleeds like heck.

 

[aart]

My chicken's nails are getting pretty long. Do you think I need to clip them, or will the ends just break off eventually? If so, what clipper should I use?

How long are they.....pics?
Do they have a place to scratch and dig?

 

[neo71665]

Are you talking about nails or spurs?

X2 on the place to scratch. I've never in my life had to trim chickens nails.

 

[Devyn Nagy]

How long are they.....pics?
Do they have a place to scratch and dig?

I'd say they're about 3/4 inch long, or 2 centimetres. They do scratch, but just pine needles and soil. Nothing hard.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Consider adding some hard items into your run space - I have quite a few bricks, cinder blocks, concrete blocks, and stones in the run. Very cheap and it'll allow the chickens to whittle down their nails and beaks a bit.

 

[aart]

I'd say they're about 3/4 inch long, or 2 centimetres. They do scratch, but just pine needles and soil. Nothing hard.

That sounds pretty long, pics would be good.

 

[K0k0shka]

What’s wrong with the nails? Do they present a problem for the chicken? Chickens have nails, and yeah they can be long. Unless it’s negatively impacting the chicken’s daily life, I’d leave the nails alone. They won’t grow forever if untrimmed like human nails do.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

Pictures are always a big help to show what you're talking about. I haven't had to trim toenails, but I have had to trim beaks, and cat nail clippers are good to have on hand. Again, be aware there is a quick in the nail.