Thick, nasty nails

[Angelight]

I just purchased a barred rock hen this afternoon. She has very thick nails, feces all over her rear... Poor thing looks healthy overall, just a couple of issues. I'm hoping that after a couple of weeks with me (a bath and some nail trimming, too) she'll be much better off. I've read to cut chicken's nails like a dog's, with the same clippers, but to only do the tips. What if they're an inch or so long? Just keep doing the tip until I get it close enough? And if I find that the quick has grown an inch out? It is obvious that it is affecting her walking so it can't just be ignored. Thanks, in advance!

 

[Angelight]

Bump.

 

[emrys]

If you cut just a little off the end then trim again in a week doing the same thing you can eventually get the nails back to a proper length, at least that's what works for dogs. Chickens with dirt to scratch in should be able to keep their nails worn down to a suitable natural length. Remember they need a nice long nail to scratch hard dirt into a soft dustbath and to find goodies in the soil.