I recently noticed that the nails on my girls are getting long enough that they sort of curl to the side a bit. They are always on grass, so I imagine they don't get much opportunity to wear them down. Is this a problem? Should I clip them? Thanks all,
Myrrh
Nail clipping for chickens?
Myrrh,
This can be a problem. They can grown right back around and into the fleshy part of their foot. I know Claire has shared experiences with needing to clip her adopted chicken's nails. So hopefully she'll find this thread and answer in more detail.
I know you can use a regular pair of clippers, but I don't know what to look for as far as length or quick is considered.
i use dog clippers just clip below the quick. if it bleeds use all purpose flour to stop the bleeding and will be fine in a few min. they r just like cutting a dogs nails.
Oh no, and how often are we supposed to do that?
Do people with a large flock do this too?
Yikes!!
Most birds are able to wear them down on there own but if they are always on grass then it is very possible that you will need to trim them down ocasionally. It's important that it gets done if it is needed because otherwise it can cause pain for the bird if they get to long. Good luck!
i do it a few times a year cause mine r on wire, if not they will get snagged and rip out. if they need it more than that i clip them too and before shows. i thought if they were on the ground they wore them down more.
Sorry to seem such a wimp....I'm just getting the visual of the clipping.....I think this is a good job for my husband. :)
Yupper, I do it every time I need to check a bird over, if it needs it. I try to check every bird over every couple of weeks. Initially, I had some birds in BAD shape. Seriously overgrown nails. Fortunately a lot of them had light color nails. Do it in sunlight. For the bird's protection, gently wrap it in a towel. Turn the bird on its back. Examine each nail. It should not be twisting towards the end. If your birds have light color nails, in the sunlight you should be able to see a pinkish color part inside. That is the quick and it is the part with blood supply. You want to cut to just in front of that part. If you overcut a bit, no worries. I have blood stop powder (like you can get for dogs) but flour works too. Sometimes the nails are really tough and hard and it's difficult to see the pink part. Just cut back in tiny increments until the center part changes from a white chalky looking material to a pinker material, and stop. Also a great time to rub vaseline into their legs and feet for leg mite treatment and/or prevention, and good for dry skin. They will appreciate it!
Teresa - you clip your own nails, you can do theirs too! Be brave!!
I know, I know......I'm just picturing the flapping......the towel is a good idea.
I wrestle with the labs every other week or so to do their nails...(I use a dremel, it works great!! no worries about getting the quick!!) that's why I was volunteering my husband.
But, this definitely sounds like a two person job for us, at least until we know what the h*## we are doing!! I guess we now have a weekend project! :) It's always something, isn't it??
Thanks for the words of confidence!!
Oh, a dremel would be awesome! Not everybody has one. We use one on our greyhound. That would be great for the chicken nails, for sure.
I think my dog (and maybe my chickens) would tremble into a pile of mush if I tried to use a dremel on him. He's such a wuss, I took him to the vet awhile ago and they clipped his nails while he was there... he sounded like someone was trying to gut him with a butter knife.
Scared/hurt beagle = LOTS of NOISE!
Teresa have you ever had them fake nails at a nail salon? If not hold onto the nail attached to the foot and press lightly while cutting, it will keep the pain away.
i just put my arm up under chest till my hand is up under the belly by feet. hold both legs apart with hand and pull ur hand up toward u some. look down around the bum and cut them, it's easy to see and the bird don't know what u r doing. with ur arm under them they don't get so scared and ur arm holds the wing down. or dh holds them on his lap and i grab a foot and go around till i get them all but then they peck at the cutters. yes a dremal or metal file will work also but mine would never hold still for that,lol. it is easier to do a chickens nails by far than it is to do my min pin's or my pug's or any other dog i've ever had.
I agree silkie the faster i can get it over the better easier on me and the chicken. I can't see grinding a chickens nails with a dremel tool it would take way to long and might be tramatic to the chicken.
So much great advice! Now I just have to get home early enough to have some light to find every ones nails. This whole time change thing is no fun. Thanks all!
Trimming the nails is really easy, and wrapping the bird in a towel does help. The only time I have difficulty is when the bird has black nails and I cannot see where the quick begins.
I use regular fingernail or toenail clippers, not the ones for dogs. Earlier today I was clipping a roo's nails and wondering how the pedipaws dog nail trimmer would work on the birds, lol.
Suze
Trimmed 75 beaks and ever how many toenails there are on 75 chickens Yesterday. Dusted all for mites took hour and a half to do it and used reguler people toe nail clippers the scisser looking one's and permethrin to dust.
This afternoon i will be rubbing 75 combs and legs with mineral oil to aleviate dryness.
Sounds like a fabulous chicken spa going on at your house. Can my girls come for a retreat there? ;-) Seriously, I'll probably do the same tomorrow.
No trying to get a jump on old man winter got to get all their spa treatments done before it gets to cold.
The mineral oil helps with keeping there combs soft and warm but you can coat a roosters or hens comb with vaseline and they won't get frozen combs.
that's what I was planning to do this weekend... talula has the biggest comb of the three girls -- significantly bigger -- and I was noticing it looks a bit dry. So I was inspired by you and planning to apply vaseline or mineral oil. :-)
I'm inspired to think about it! But catching my wild women.....