pedicure for hens?

[floridahenhouse]

We are new to Bantams and are really surprised by the length of the nails on their toes compared to our full-size birds. Some of them are so long that they are starting to curl sideways. Is this normal? Does anyone clip the nails?

 

[aart]

You can trim chicken nails....with same dangers as clipping dogs nails, clip them too short and they can bleed badly.
Cornstarch can stop bleeding. Do they have dirt to scratch in?

 

[Chickenmanjim7]

let them free range and scratch whittles em down fast.

 

[floridahenhouse]

would love to do that but we have too many coyotes, hawks and owls in the area.
Thanks.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

let them free range and scratch whittles em down fast.

It will not effect the curling toes in time.If this is not tookin care of they may get snagged on something.

 

[TalkALittle]

I use a Dremel on mine and grind them down like I do my dogs' nails.

 

[aart]

I use a Dremel on mine and grind them down like I do my dogs' nails.

That can work great because if you hit the quick it's just a tiny bit of blood instead of a gusher.....
.......but the heat can build up from a dremel.

Do you use a coarse sandpaper drum?