can you trim spurs?

[Flock Runner]

i have 2 roos rite now. i am planning on getting more chicks and since i am getting bantams some of them will be straight run. i am confident in my ability to raise tame roos consindering how well my first ones turned out but i doubt that i will be able to avoid fights completely if i introduce new ones.the spurs on my current roos are a bit long and dangerous looking and since my birds will be twice the size of my new ones i thought getting rid of the spurs might be a good idea. i'm a bit aprehencive about it though because i don't want to harm my roosters. i have a friend whose hen pled to death from ripping off a toe nail. if i trim the spurs, using a pair of dog nail trimmers, will i have to worry about that, or are spurs vienless and can come rite off?

short version:
can i trim rooster spurs? if so, is there a certain length that i should cut them at to where they don't bleed?

thanks in advance.

 

[moomoodiddy]

my dad has always cut off my rooster spurs they bleed a little and dont hurt them much you just have to make sure it doesnt get infected some may say its cruel but its better than letting rooster cut each other up to death

 

[Flock Runner]

is there a certain length that i should cut them to or should i cut the entire thing off?

 

[RedDrgn]

Have you considered just sanding them down a bit and blunting them? Our roo's spurs are just coming in (at 9 months old), and I'm on the fence about whether or not to trim/sand his spurs as they sharpen. He doesn't give my DH or I trouble, but he hates strangers on the property and has gone at my neighbors when they walked in the yard (despite my warnings to wait until I got the chickens back in the run). I don't want anyone to get hurt.

 

[jak2002003]

One of my older rooster has got huge spurs. Never have any problems with him fighting the other rooster or people, but I just don't like the look of them!

I also want to know if I can cut them off. Are they like dog nails - with a vein in the middle? If they are, can I cut then half way down and then they won't bleed?

 

[7L Farm]

I personally don't alter my birds but I live on farm & feel my birds need every advantage they have to get out of harms way if need be. I bet you could use a dremel tool to dull the roo's spurs.

 

[moomoodiddy]

you can cut them however short u want its just preference if u want to have to take care of their feet you can get some tar to put over it or something

 

[Flock Runner]

i have quick stop which i use for my dog's nails if i cut them too short. but i dont have a dremmel tule. i might leave their spurs alone depending on how they behave with new chickens, but if they get into brawls with birds half their size then i at least want to have an alternative.
thanks for the replies!

 

[duckinnut]

I cut my roosters spurs off with a hack saw about 5/8 of an inch from his legs. Didn't want to really do it but he was so darn big and heavy, he would literally hurt the girls. I had one have her skin ripped right off her flesh,just couldn't have that. He injured 3/4 of the hens so enough was enough. A trick I learned from a friend was to take bar soap like Ivory and after cutting the spur, rub the soap hard on the cut area as it will immediately stop any bleeding.

 

[tamdeva]

wow this is just the advice I needed. My rooster is very big, with 4 in sharp spurs, and his "favorite" hen is just a mess. I made her a saddle, but he is breaking off her wing feathers, they look awful. I am getting my saw and drummel tool and soap and quick-stop out, And get a helper to hold him! Thanks, Frenchie the hen will be very pleased too!