Do you need to cut chickens toes and wings?

[Linda in San Diego]

Thanks for asking questions - that is one way to learn things. Of course finding some informative books and magazines will help also.

We actually did have to trim the wing feathers on our pullets. The yard is surrounded by 6ft tall wood or chainlink fencing. The part of the fence closet to the coop is covered with vines. We had several pullets who were looking for alternative places to lay their eggs and several of them kept flying up to the top of the vine covered fence - we saw them in action.

We chose to trim feathers on one wing so they could no longer get that high. We trimmed them like we would do on our parrots. Now they are accustomed to laying in the coop and I doubt if we will have to do that again.

The nails on the feet are thier excavators and what they use to dig up all the goodies in the yard.

 

[sloallie10]

So you really dont have to cut there wings?

 

[Linda in San Diego]

No you don't have to.

 

[sloallie10]

ok doky

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
Just FYI, you're not cutting their "wings". You are cutting the feathers. This is only to prevent them from flying which you rarely have to do.

 

[sloallie10]

sorry, and I know there not toes there nails or i think talens???

 

[dacjohns]

I think it would be toe nails. They really don't need to be trimmed like we do or like dogs that are kept inside. The normal scratching a chicken does should be sufficient.