Nail care?

[Its Just Us Chickens]

These Silkies I was given have some really long claws! Really long and curly. Are they supposed to get long like that, or are you supposed trim them or something? None of the other chickens I have have ever had nails that long, just wondering if that's normal.

 

[EweSheep]

Trim them with dog clippers.

Some breeds or certain personality of the birds would not scratch around that much and thus, longer nails. So we have to help them a bit by trimming them.

I have a SSH banty who is lazy about scratching around, I trim her every three months or when she starts to "goose step".

 

[Its Just Us Chickens]

How short do I cut them?

 

[EweSheep]

almost to the quick, just cut little by little until the center becomes light pink.

If you accidently cut the quick, stop the bleeding with Quik Stop powder or cornstarch or flour and dab it on the bleeding nail.