Roosters nails

[cincyfarmgirl]

I have one rooster for my 18 hens. He’s a good protector and caregiver but I notice damage to the hens. He is a Brahma and has very long nails. How do I go about trimming his nails?

 

[Ridgerunner]

The way I'd do it is to wrap him in a large towel or maybe a blanket since he is a big brahma and lay him down on a shelf of such. Use a Dremel tool with one of those discs you use to cut metal and take off the tip. If you get too deep you can hit the quick. I've done that a couple of times, he didn't even flinch so I don't think it really hurts him. It can bleed a bit but I think the cutting disc gets hot enough to cauterize it.

Some people use a drill with a grinder to take off the tip. I've never tried that so no experience but it sounds like it should work to me.

Some people use dog claw cutters, again no experience with those.

 

[Mrs. K]

Also remember, feathers are getting old and brittle this time of year, just ahead of the molt. Hens tend to look like rag muffins going into August.