4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Bloomers004]

Hello newbie hen keepers here

 

We are the proud owner of 3 ex-bats, who have been with us just under a week and have settled in so quickly in their retirement home

 

We can see that their nails appear overgrown and today Diana seems to be limping a little. We have had a look at her foot, and though we are very inexperienced it looks ok.

 

We wonder if we should be nail clipping & if so are there any rules to stick to?

 

Apart from that any ideas/theories from anyone with more experience would be gratefully received.

 

The Ladies have spent the past few days foraging around in the garden & all this 'back leg kicking' may have played havoc with Diana's muscles! It does seem to be her foot though and Barbara & Soula appear fine.

 

Please help.

 

[Egluntyne]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on acquiring your hens.

 

Ordinarily any nails that need clipping are done at the rescue, so possibly don't need doing.

 

They will wear down by themselves now that they are scratching about.

[Bloomers004]

Thanks for such a speedy response.

 

Our hens were not part of a rescue op though. We live near a farm that clears its sheds three times per year. As we were aware that the next shed was going to slaughter at the end of August we contacted them direct and they let us take 3 out early.

 

I don't think the farmer has clipped their nails, though they are generally in better condition than we were expecting & have laid every day! We weren't expecting eggs for ages.

 

Do you still think I should just leave the nails?

 

Ta

[Egluntyne]

If they are terribly long you could use dog nail clippers, just to remove the very ends. If you go too far down, you might accidentally nick a blood vessel.......and a little goes a long way.

[Hen Watch]

I've never nail clipped mine so I can't give any advice on that score. But I did find this post from a few years back where rough slabs were used in the run.

 

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16731&hilit=+nail+blood

[Bloomers004]

OK That's decided it...I'm leaving well alone!

 

I thought we were ok this morning as Diana walked confidently out of her house, no sign of the limp. I was thinking that maybe she was just feeling stiff after so much freedom after being used to none.

 

However, after taking a dirt bath this afternoon her limp reappeared. Thinking about it it was after her dirt bath yesterday that I noticed the limp in the first place. She has taken a liking to her baths and has 3 since we got her all in different places in the garden....none in the special dustbath provided!

 

Oh well, think I'll just keep an eye on it and see how she is in the morning.

 

Bloomers & the Ladies

 

Diana, Barbara, Soula xxx