toenail issues

[JarrodnJojo2016]

one of my new black tailed white Japanese hens has extremely long toenails, way over the length they should be. should I cut it? an I cut it with regular or dog toenail clippers? it throws her balance off a bit and I hate it how it makes her pretty little feet look! any suggestions??

 

[sourland]

Yes, you can trim her nails with dog toe nail clippers. Understand that there is a quick in the nails just as with dogs nails.

 

[JarrodnJojo2016]

thank you

 

[sourland]

If her toenails are white, you may be able to see the quick. If they are colored, just trim back a little bit at a time.

 

[centrarchid]

Also look to prevent the problem from reoccurring. Make birds have locations they can scratch and where the tips of the evergrowing talons. A box with a wooden bottom they can scratch down to is a start. Consider placing sand or pea gravel in the same box. One of these days I will try wrapping roosting dowel with sand paper to see how that works.