Do roosters have veins in their spurs?

[ChucktheChick]

I have all hens and 3 roosters. My first 2 Roos were the more tame kind, and they don't have long spurs. My 3rd Roo, on the other hand, had long spurs and is very aggressive towards me and my family. It really upsets my because he was such a nice rooster until we got some smaller hens his size. (He's a self blue oegb btw) I want to trim his spurs, but do the spurs have veins that I could nick? I started with some dog clippers at the end of his spurs, but didn't go any farther because I was afraid of hitting any veins. I want to take the most of the spur off but I don't want to twist it or anything like that. He seemed calm when I was clipping them though. So, do they have veins running in their spurs? Thanks in advance!!!

 

[chooks4life]

There's a see-through tip, often, to a fully adult rooster's spurs. That can be cut without hurting him. But he can still stab you or cause bone and tissue damage. You can also use pliers and remove the whole spur. It'll leave a small soft 'inner spur'. It will hurt him, for a bit. If you cut into the spur it will bleed and hurt because the inner spur portion feeds blood to the hard outer cuticle so it can grow.

Personally I would cull any violent rooster. If I was so inclined to try preventative methods, I'd remove the whole outer spur, so next time he attacks he'll hurt himself. But you're running a terrible risk of maiming or even death for you or your family by keeping him. Roosters may be small but they're potentially deadly. I think even one rooster-caused toddler death is too many but many other breeders tolerate violent roosters; so there are multiples of toddler and child deaths because people breed the bad ones. I appreciate your sentiments on it, but wouldn't keep him myself. Best wishes.

 

[tcmstalcup]

His spurs can be removed but that won't fix his attitude. He still is going to go after you and you are passing the aggressive traits if you raise his babies. All you accomplish by removing the spurs is decreasing the damage he can do but not eliminating it. No matter what he looks like or how he used to behave, its time to cull.

 

[chooks4life]

Have to agree with tcmstalcup, unfortunately. Even if you remove the whole spur it will grow back. Even if you blunt it the tips will regrow surprisingly quickly. It's an exercise you'll be repeating often for a bird that has forfeited its right to live.

 

[coffeychicks]

I had a beautiful white leghorn rooster. He started being mean to the hens. Then went after my 4 year old. He never went after me just my husband and son. That is a big no no. He was butchered and became dinner. It wasn't a easy choice but I would not breed him because of aggression or risk him hurting my son I trimmed his spurs. But he still drew blood. There are too many good roos that need a home.