Can hens have "spurs"?

[henmommy]

I have two hens in my flock of 12 the have spurs...one is Buff Orpington and the other a Maran. The Maran is Broody from June to Sept, while the other is not. I just find this odd.....is it common? I have not a roo in my flock for years, but have a young one now, as a pullet I bought in the spring is not a pullet. These two ladies are the leaders of the flock. Any thoughts? Is this a genetic fluke? Thanks!

 

[nicalandia]

I have two hens in my flock of 12 the have spurs...one is Buff Orpington and the other a Maran. The Maran is Broody from June to Sept, while the other is not. I just find this odd.....is it common? I have not a roo in my flock for years, but have a young one now, as a pullet I bought in the spring is not a pullet. These two ladies are the leaders of the flock. Any thoughts? Is this a genetic fluke? Thanks!

hens can have spurs, this is caused by many factors, one of them is hormonal inbalance, remember that the default sex for chickens is the male side, that means if something is affecting the hens ovaries the hen will start turning into a pseudo rooster. sometimes its just genetics and if the hen is still laying eggs that means she is just fine

 

[stoneunhenged]

Yes, I frequently see hen spurs on gamefowl hens.

 

[Wray mom]

yes i just sold a polish mix hen w spurs an inch long

 

[henmommy]

Thank you!! She does lay nice dark eggs......she is just broody for most if not all summer. Hard to tell about the other one becuase I have 3 BO's and I can't be 100% sure who is laying. Do you think the young roo will take his place as "chief" over time or will he submit to the older, dominant hens? He is not currently crowing...approx. 22 weeks old

 

[aSliceOfLife]

Marans are prone to being broody and it has nothing to do with the spurs. I have one that is broody most of the year but I do so love her dark chocolate brown eggs. And she doesn't have any spurs. But I do have a buttercup with one huge 3 to 4 inch spur that I have to trim every six months or so. And she lays lots and lots of eggs.