when do I cut chicken toe nails

[rancher hicks]

Chickens that are outside should have little need for nail clipping. Provided of course they have some gravel and scratching areas. Mine dig holes to dust in and dig for whatever it is thy find.

 

[ruanG]

i dont think you should cut it at all, i just did and it really bled allot!! freaked me out! cuz if the chicken died my sister would have killed me!!

 

[hooverchild]

My chickens are on a dirt/small gravel run and their nails still grow real long and they dig and scratch all the time.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I've raised hundreds of chickens and have never, not once, clipped a chicken's toenails.

I can see doing it for show, or for a specific reason like the rooster being too rough above, but otherwise, those hens WANT those toenails. Dull nails wouldn't be nearly so good for scratching.

Let chickens be chickens, for goodness sake. That's almost as bad s clipping nails on a barn cat.

 

[Comeonbroodyhen]

So how do you stop the bleeding on the nail. I just cut one nail ( stupid me ) and it really started to bleed

 

[debid]

Bleeding is because you cut into the quick. Styptic powder works great, cornstarch or flour would be OK (but not instant).

Nail cutting is a normal part of grooming caged birds. No, they don't need it if you're giving enough time to scratch in sandy or rocky soil but if you're caging, you'll need to learn and a Dremel would be a worthwhile investment since it does a far superior job without the bleeding risk.

 

[Comeonbroodyhen]

I always give my birds a wide are to free range in outside with grass and dirt. But I got here from a poultry auction and I could tell she was a caged bird and they did not take care of her very well. Because her nail was growing sideways and also making her toe go that way to so I had to cut it.

 

[AnotherSusan]

I recently got a silkie that had horribly long toenails. Hers were so long that she walked with her toes clenched like a fist. Seriously, the longest nail was 2 and 1/2 inches long!

I could see the quick and was able to cut the first inch off immediately. Since then every few days I trim a bit more off using PediPaws, like a dremel, but for pets.

She is now walking and scratching normally and is much happier although there is still some excess nail length.

 

[Bethel3330]

I'm about to do this with my rooster. He has one long nail on each foot and the toe is starting to turn outward. It can't be good for their feet.