Hen nails gone?

[chickndays]

Is it normal for a hen to be missing some nails? Hen seems to be otherwise fine, acting normally and not limping.

 

[WingItRanch]

I wouldn't say normal. Did she have any issues with frostbite in the past? It's possible she lost the tips from cold.

 

[chickndays]

I don't think so. I just noticed this today. Have been gone the past several days so maybe something happened during that time.

 

[Eggcessive]

Usually they lose them when the tops of the toes get frostbitten in Jan-Feb. Sometimes they will teat off a nail by hooking it into fencing, but she would be limping and you would see injury. Maybe you just didn’t see it when it happened. It can take a month or more for toe tips to come off with frostbite. Have you had her long?

 

[Debbie292d]

Usually they lose them when the tops of the toes get frostbitten in Jan-Feb. Sometimes they will teat off a nail by hooking it into fencing, but she would be limping and you would see injury. Maybe you just didn’t see it when it happened. It can take a month or more for toe tips to come off with frostbite. Have you had her long?

I can attest to this! Even with feathered feet, I have a couple of my older silkies missing toenails and look like yours. Their coop is heated to 40°F, but they get out in the winter once paths are made if it's 20°F or above. Thus, they were staying out too long, so we don't let them be out so long anymore until it's above freezing.

 

[chickndays]

Usually they lose them when the tops of the toes get frostbitten in Jan-Feb. Sometimes they will teat off a nail by hooking it into fencing, but she would be limping and you would see injury. Maybe you just didn’t see it when it happened. It can take a month or more for toe tips to come off with frostbite. Have you had her long?

I've had her since she was a mail order chick. As far as I can tell, none of the other hens have the same problem.