Trimming Nails??

[MakNat]

Can you trim chicken toe nails just like you would a dog's??

 

[sunnydee]

I have read on here that you can. You just need to be careful on how much you trim. If the birds are able to get outside and scratch around daily, you shouldn't have to trim them.

 

[MakNat]

I got a little tiny banny hen. She is so tiny and cute. She looks like a orange breasted pigion! I call her Queenie Beanie.... Anyway, I just got her resently and her nails are so long her toes are actually twisted and she walks funny. I got a section in my coop for the little ones to get in and out, were the bigg chicks can't go. She hangs tight there. I swear if I had a HUGE bird cage she would live in my house. She is just the sweetest thing!

 

[sunnydee]

If they are that long I would trim them up! She sounds adorable!

 

[mmajw]

You can use dog nail clippers on her. You may only want to cut a little at a time. Going to far may make her bleed for a few minutes. After clipping you could always use a thick file and get them shorter that way as well.

Good luck

 

[Attack Chicken]

You need to post a picture of her

 

[MakNat]

My camera's pics are too big to post here. Or I just haven't figured it out completely yet. I am going to trim them a tiny bit, but am going to file the rest just to be safe.!!! I still want to move her in the house!!!

 

[speedabug]

I trim my chickens nails when they become to long. Just when you trim them DO NOT cut to close to the pink they will bleed. GOOD LUCK!!

 

[mypicklebird]

You can cut them with a small dog or cat nail trimmer, or use a dremmel tool. Have quick-stop on hand from a pet store to stop the bleeding if you go to far by accident. Same stuff used for dogs/cats- works fine on bird nails.

If they are preventing her from walking normally, I would cut them aggressively to close to normal length- cut every 2 weeks or so to get them back to where they should be. She was probably kept on wire for along time for them to get that way.

Likely you will need to trim her nails periodically for life- her toes are probably deformed by now due to the nails twisting them, they will not wear normally. Not a big deal, just make sure to look at them every month- and cut anything going an odd direction or forcing her toe(s) the wrong direction.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I've only had a problem with nails getting a little too long once or twice with a broody, since she wasn't running around. I also check chickens that have an extra toe that isn't on the ground, due to their breed.