Dealing with Rooster Spurs

[Jeni1953]

Prince Harry is very hard on the girls! Has anyone tried to cover the spurs with wire nuts? If so, how did it work? Do you have to take them off for a period? Any experience?

 

[Evelyn Walker]

It is actually the toenails that tear up the hens, not the spurs.

 

[Jeni1953]

It is actually the toenails that tear up the hens, not the spurs.

Thanks, As I read thru the threads I came to that conclusion. New to the issue.

 

[coach723]

Both nails and spurs can do damage, depends on how long the spurs are, how sharp, straight or curved etc. Likewise with the nails. If a hen moves and/or he slips a spur can make a large wound. I just use large dog clippers and blunt the spurs so they are not sharp, and keep the nails trimmed if necessary. If spurs get too long then I trim so they don't get hung up on things or make it hard for them to walk. If the environment doesn't have materials that they can wear the nails down on by scratching around, then adding some flat concrete stepping stones can help a bit with keeping the nails worn down. I have them at the door from their covered run to the outside run so that they all have to walk on them going in and out. They also have concrete blocks in a shady area that they roost on during the day. I rarely have to trim nails unless someone has a wonky toe, I check spurs regularly.