3 year old Pullet with Spurs and question about NEW babies.

[Kentucky girlz]

First of all, I find this fascinating!! I had no idea this could even happen.
My three-year-old golden comet has developed Spurs. I'm going to try totrim them with a dremel tool as shes not aggressive and i don't really think i need to remove them, but just take the edge off. I just absolutely couldn't believe it when I saw them, and wanted to share in case somebody else has never seen it before either.

I have 7 new babies that will be joining these 4 old girls soon. As you can see from the picture, the older ones are pretty hefty and they've never flown over my fence. Do you think it would be safer to trim the wings of my 7 new babies or will they just simply follow the lead of their 4 fat sisters and stay in the yard?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some hens have spurs, it's not too unusual. I wouldn't clip wing until you absolutely need to, than only one to see how it goes.

 

[RWise]

I now lightly clip the right wing of all youngsters (cept the roo's), they must stay in the yard! I have found that after they molt, the feathers are replaced and they stay put, it's a training thing. Does it stop them from flying, no, but it puts them off balance. After the pullets molt and become hens, I no longer have the need to clip a wing. Maybe they are to heavy/lazy to desire flight, or maybe they just know where their area is.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I have a cream legbar hen that has spurs that rival those of any of my roos. She's 3 years old also.

 

[aart]

Have had several hens with spurs....no need to trim them, tho a quick file will take the sharpness off so you don't get scratched while handling her.

Welcome to BYC @Kentucky girlz !

FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[Kentucky girlz]

Have had several hens with spurs....no need to trim them, tho a quick file will take the sharpness off so you don't get scratched while handling her.

Welcome to BYC @Kentucky girlz !

FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

Thanks! I had no idea about the different names for chickens and Roosters depending on age. the 3 year olds are my first I filed her spurs a bit so they weren't super sharp.

My new chicks are 7 weeks old. Only one of my hens seems annoyed by them, she's a Golden Laced Wyandotte, she's always been at the top of the pecking order and she got kind of aggressive with the new ones yesterday, I'm a little bit worried. it's still too cold to have the babies in the coop at night and I've only had them out in the yard twice VERY closely supervised. the Wyandotte definitely is letting the others know she's the boss, but when she grabbed a beakfull of tailfeathers and ate them i put the older ones away. haha

One of the older hens, my Black Australorp, almost seems to enjoy the little ones. the other 2 don't care at all. (yet)

 

[aart]

7 weeks should be fine for them to go outside full time, they should be off heat inside.
You could acclimate them to the colder temps by closing off the brooder room and opening the window.
What is your location?
It's easy to add to your profile, then it's always there!



I brood in the coop after 1 week and integrate at 4 weeks.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/

Here's some integration tips that might help.
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.