Removing/trimming rooster spurs

[StarburstnClover]

I'm sure somewhere in these many posts there is a topic about how to trim or remove the large back claw/spur on a rooster. We have two roosters and I've managed to trim them but always say to myself "there must be an easier way!" Could anyone who has had success with this post their procedure? Thanks

 

[Cathryn]

TRIMMING SPURS: Supplies: flour or blood stop, and a pair of needle nose pliers. I hold my chicken under one arm. Then I take a pair of needle nosed pliers and place them in the middle of the spur, up a little bit closer to the leg than down the spur. Nest, I medium firmly clamp the pliers on the spur, yet not hard enough to crack the spur. Then I move the pliers back and forth. Do not pull the spur off, only wiggle a little bit back and forth, do not force the spur out of the flesh. Within 20-60 seconds the spur will loosen and it will fall right off. The flesh underneath the spur will be tender and weepy. Put flour or blood stop in it. At this point I like to spray the tender flesh with blue coat, then put more flour on it. If I am removing a spur from a show bird, I will use antibiotic powder like terramycain (sp?) on top of the flour or blood stop. When I am sure the weepy flesh is covered up, I put my rooster down and let them go on their way. This is way less painful and stressful than cutting spurs off, and you do not have to worry about them bleeding to death from it. It takes quite awhile for the hard spur cover to grow back. When it does, remove it again. Their spurs will get smaller and smaller with time. Hope this helps, Cathryn

 

[vbgarden]

Eureka! Success! Amazing!

I came onto the forum about a month ago because I had a little banty rooster whose spurs desperately needed to be either removed or cut back. They were long and had curled around until they were almost piercing his thigh. I was terrified about cutting the spur for fear of bleeding and trauma (to him and to me).

I read a couple of posts on the forum about removing the spurs with microwaved potatoes. The instructions were to microwave whole potatoes (one per spur) and, when fully hot, to stick the potato onto a spur and hold for five minutes. After removing the potato, quickly grab the spur with pliers and twist firmly.

Well, I tried it about an hour ago.... and......IT WORKED!!!

It not only worked, I don't even thing we would have needed the pliers. The spurs slipped right off, leaving a small spur behind that was whole and sharp and that (according to the posts I read) will continuing growing a replacement, longer spur as time goes on.

Mr. Chicken, held firmly by my next door neighbor, Kristi, never looked stressed or indicated that having the hot potato on his spur gave him any pain at all. We were careful to make sure the hot potato didn't touch any other part of his foot or toes.

In the past, one of our shared roosters actually impaled himself jumping down off a perch with huge upward spurs - enough of an abdominal injury that infection set in and we had to euthanize him. We were determined to try whatever was needed not to have that happen again.

Bless whomever it was that put this ridiculous but EFFECTIVE method up on the forum!!!

 

[DevaughnWifey]

No one says...... what is the spur inside the spur?

Is it bone? Is it cartilage?

What happens if you try to trim the spur in the spur after you remove the outer casing?

Looks like the dremel tool cuts through both spurs. And it all grows back? Anyone know how long it takes for both spur and outer casing to grow back?

I did not know that is what has been happening to my hen. I thought he was pulling the feathers out with his beak when he was trying to catch her.

Sylviaanne, the "spur inside" is the quick, or "toe" like inside a dog's toenail, or under your own finger nails. If you try to do anything to the quick after removing the outer spur (which btw has no nerve endings) you can potentially cause your rooster to bleed out and die.

Yes a demel, a file, a hacksaw etc. are all methods of removing pr blunting spurs. Issues with these methods of removal include injuring the rooster by twisting the base of the spur (does contain nerve endings & is very sensitive in some), filing can cause ragged edges that can catch on things in their pen etc.

I personally prefer the hot potato method. It works quickly, the bleeding is less of an issue, you're not as likely to twist the spur sidewise at the base and injure him etc and he heals quickly.

** Excessive bleeding should be managed with flour or a store bought bleeding management powder
** The quick extends approximately 1/3 - 2/3 down the spur depending on how long it is.
** Roosters should be isolated from all other birds to minimize risk of injuries
** Freshly removed spur quick should not be touched or bumped for at least a week (which is why you should isolate them) else they may begin to bleed.
** Spurs will grow back eventually, but it takes approximately 2 - 4-weeks for the outer sheath to harden, and several months for the spur to grow to a length of any consequence.
** If spurs are consistently removed, they will eventually grow to be shorter in length on average.
** To help ease the transition from isolation to integration back into the flock it sometimes helps to keep their isolation cage either near the main coop where his normal flock-mates can see him, or IN the coop itself.

Hope this helps!!

 

[rcentner]

Quote:
I too was terrified to think of pulling the spurs off, but needed to trim my large roo's spurs due to new flock members and some possible chicks on the way. So I took my dog's nail trimmers and trimmed them just like a dog nail. I started low and worked my way up. I also had some syptic powder, one of them bled because I cut too short (just like a dog/cat nail), and the syptic rubbed off and didn't really do a good job, next time I will take the silver nitrate sticks from work cause those work better for larger bleeds. But I cut the 2nd one a little less and it didn't bleed at all. We did it at night after roost and he didn't seem to even notice. He was more concerned that we were holding him. they both look great, was a little blood to clean off the roost. I would rather do this than tear them off.

 

[Cathryn]

Whether you just jiggle back and forth the cover off or use the hot potato, this removes the spur covering to the quick. (never pull it off) I put flour or blood stop on them and let my cockerels and roosters go about their way. I've never had a problem with it. My gray silkie cockerels grow long thin spurs even though they are younger than most cockerels start to even grow a tip of a spur. I like to keep them off. Cathryn

 

[Bob G]

I'm pretty sure the correct word is "styptic", not septic. I used a styptic pencil on myself back when I shaved. Septic is the place where effluent goes when you flush the toilet.

 

[bantychick]

I just had to say we just tried the microwave potato method too - AMAZING! It definitely worked. We have bantys and silkies - didn't hurt the rooster, and it came out with my fingers just wiggling it for a few seconds. Highly recommend! Thanks for sharing the tip!!!

sandra

 

[centrarchid]

When you cut off a roosters spur it comes back right??? Can you burn it off like you would with calf/lamb horns so it cant grow back??????

Generally when trimming or removing spurs the tissue from which spur originated remains intact. Birds that I work on with respect to spurs are usually more than 2 years old and can be expected to live several more. For a variety of reasons I like to cut off spur about 3/4 inch from base leaving a flat end using a hack saw. Bleeds a little but regrowth of pointy tip takes longer than if you twist entire outer spur off. Process needs to be repeated about every two years. Spur growth varies with some birds growing spurs faster than others.

 

[CountryBirdGirl]

We tried the hot potato method last night and it worked!!!!

I kept finding posts about doing this and was very skeptical, but it worked extremely easily, with no blood at all!
We waited until it was dark and our Rooster was tired out from the day.
After heating up a medium size Potato in the microwave for just 3 minutes (you don't want it too mushy, or it will break apart) we then placed it into aluminum foil, to keep it hot until we got into the coop.
We also brought Styptic powder (cornstarch will also work, if you don't have the styptic), paper towels (just in case) and pliers.
With us both wearing headlights (one of us kept the light on the rooster's face, so that he couldn't see what we were doing, while the other light was kept on his feet), I held him close to my chest while my husband placed the hot potato onto both spurs. We held it there for about 5 minutes, after which time the potato was quickly removed and my husband very gently twisted the spur's sheath. We really didn't even need the the pliers, but they did enable a better grip. The spur sheath came right off! He then did the second one which came off just as easily. It took more time just holding the potato in place to soften the spurs, but it was well worth the while. Whoever came up with this idea was genius!
The new spurs are much smaller and they appear a bit tender but this morning he is fine.
Thank you to everyone who posted this idea! I hope my post will pass it along to help someone else.