I have a couple of Buckeye roosters who are around 2 years old.
They are massive birds, around 10Lb, and have pleasant dispositions but thick, inch-and-a-half long spurs with a sharp point. In short, though they are nice they are heavy and equipped with stabbers. The last time I tried to breed from them, one accidentally cut a long gash in the side of a hen as he struggled to keep his footing. I was there when it happened and stitched her up promptly, she healed up well, and of course I terminated the breeding experiment.
For those of you who breed Buckeyes, what approach do you take?
I've wondered about sanding the ends off the spurs - attaching rubber balls à la the horn knobs used for cattle - using a very heavy duty hen apron (it seems like leather or ribbed canvas might hold up to the spurs and provide enough toe grip) - and then one always hears about different ways of removing spurs. Another approach would be to use only very young roosters for breeding, but that seems extreme.
Best - exop
They are massive birds, around 10Lb, and have pleasant dispositions but thick, inch-and-a-half long spurs with a sharp point. In short, though they are nice they are heavy and equipped with stabbers. The last time I tried to breed from them, one accidentally cut a long gash in the side of a hen as he struggled to keep his footing. I was there when it happened and stitched her up promptly, she healed up well, and of course I terminated the breeding experiment.
For those of you who breed Buckeyes, what approach do you take?
I've wondered about sanding the ends off the spurs - attaching rubber balls à la the horn knobs used for cattle - using a very heavy duty hen apron (it seems like leather or ribbed canvas might hold up to the spurs and provide enough toe grip) - and then one always hears about different ways of removing spurs. Another approach would be to use only very young roosters for breeding, but that seems extreme.
Best - exop
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