Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[sparkysmum]

Hi,

 

Have just noticed that despite f/ring all day every day our little poots nails are quite overgrown. Not so with any of the other hens. Not sure if I can face yet another vet bill, so thought I'd do it myself. I have clippers from our guinea pig days - would these do

 

Not done this before so any advice gratefully received. Ta very much. Alli x

[CluckyBucks]

Hmm... maybe im not very experienced with trimming nails. Although i will never take mine to the vets to be clipped again, as they cut down way too far and poor Rogina couldnt stop bleeding

 

Im sure somebody wit ha bit more knowledge will answer you soon

 

xx xx

[Egluntyne]

I wouldn't bother ... for the reason mentioned by cluckybucks.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

If they really are too long, it's like cutting dogs nails.....less is definitely more .....just trim off a small amount & go back a week or so later if you think more needs to come off.

 

I was on toenail clipping duties at a BHWT rescue on Sunday, we used a fairly sustantial set of clippers...and boy weren't some of those nails long ..... though 'poots are only dinky aren't they, so guinea ones should be ok.

 

If they do start to bleed, have some wound powder, purple spray, cornflour or white soap ready to hand to seal the bleeding asap.....some of my Pekins needed trimming, though not all, so like us I suppose, their nails all grow at different rates & are scratched back more by some than others.

 

Good luck

 

Sha x

[Redwing]

If you hold the nails up to the light you should be able to see where you can cut, the end of the nail will be more see through than the bit that will bleed! Trim very very little off the ends then use a metal nail file to take the nail back a bit further, be very careful

[Barkisland]

I had to trim a bit off Agnes last weekend. (She has been lame for a while and the two middle toes on her sore leg had become very overgrown - I suspect this dates back to pre recue, they were so badly overgrown). I used a pair of jewellery wire cutters because a) they were to hand, and b) I felt I could control them very precisely.

I cut off between 1/4 and 1/2 inch very, very cautiously, a tiny bit at a time. I may need to take a little more off yet, but I'll see how she gets on - and tbh, she seems to be coping fine, I saw her do a little bit of chicken dance yesterday.

 

The best way is to get someone to hold your hen under their arm, facing to the rear, and then tackle the foot gently from behind her, so she can't see what you're doing It was a lot easier than I expected. Keep some flour on standby to stick the toe in if it bleeds.

[sparkysmum]

Thanks everyone. Going to have a go now they're all sleepy.

[sparkysmum]

Done Both poots have had a lovely little pedicure and are safely back in bed

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Which colour of nail varnish did they opt for ?

[sparkysmum]

Awwwwwww, just went for the natural look, Vicki