Trimming beaks and claws

[alsomadaboutchickens]

my five lovely ladies are one year old and need their beaks and claws trimmed. They are free range in a run 9m2 and love to scratch but with the soft ground and wet weather this is not keeping their claws and beaks blunt. As this will be my first attempt, advice please. What should I use? Nail clippers?

 

[sourland]

Have you trimmed dog toenails, and do you have a set of nail clippers ? Concept is pretty much the same. Have someone hold the bird, and trim back to just short of the quick.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

my five lovely ladies are one year old and need their beaks and claws trimmed. They are free range in a run 9m2 and love to scratch but with the soft ground and wet weather this is not keeping their claws and beaks blunt. As this will be my first attempt, advice please. What should I use? Nail clippers?

I use a rotary nail file, the same one I use on my dogs nails. That way I never trim too much.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I use a dog nail clipper plus coarse emery boards. Emery boards are great for shaping and just taking an edge off, whereas the clipper is better for quick removal of overgrown tips.

Putting some bricks in your run will give the chickens a hard surface to whittle their beaks on.

 

[aart]

Putting some bricks in your run will give the chickens a hard surface to whittle their beaks on.

This^^^

Can you post some pics of the feet and beaks?
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[cmom]

I had a cross beak (Gladys) that several months ago was killed by a fox. She was 3 years old. I had to trim her beak quite regularly I used dog nail clippers and a good emery board. Good luck and have fun...

 

[coach723]

Putting some bricks in your run will give the chickens a hard surface to whittle their beaks on.

You can use bricks, large rocks, concrete blocks, concrete pavers, etc. I also have concrete pavers at the popdoor out from the covered run to the open run that they walk over entering and exiting, helps a bit with the nails. Put the rocks/blocks/bricks in the vicinity of feeders and waterers, they tend to wipe after eating and drinking. Mine are raised up on concrete blocks, so it's right there.
https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/feed-health/how-to-trim-chicken-beaks-claws-and-spurs/
There are also video's on youtube if you search.

 

[centrarchid]

Can you post pictures of beaks and claws?

 

[rosemarythyme]

You can use bricks, large rocks, concrete blocks, concrete pavers, etc. I also have concrete pavers at the popdoor out from the covered run to the open run that they walk over entering and exiting, helps a bit with the nails. Put the rocks/blocks/bricks in the vicinity of feeders and waterers, they tend to wipe after eating and drinking. Mine are raised up on concrete blocks, so it's right there.

Sounds a lot like my set up. I have my feeders on bricks, there's rocks and/or bricks in every corner of the run (where they like digging), and cinder blocks as steps for both the pop door and human door. But crossbeaks will often still need intervention since they don't wear down their beaks evenly.