Dumb question, what is the difference between a 4 toe on a hen and a roosters spur?

[Mskayladog]

Hubby and I stood outside for 15 mins staring at a chicks foot trying to determine if it Has a spur or a regular hens 4th toe. This chick for the life of us keeps us guessing hen or roo.

 

[CowgirlJules]

If it's a chick, it won't have a spur yet, even if it is a cockerel. They develop those after maturity. All chickens have at least four toes; several breeds have five, with the extra being near the thumb analog at the back of the foot.

 

[Mskayladog]

Thank you, any idea what the age of maturity would be to start developing the spur?

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

My rooster was about 9 months, and his spurs were only about 3 cm.

 

[Pele]

Anatomically speaking, the hen's and rooster's foot is exactly the same. They have the same number of toes, and both genders have a 'spur bud' on the back of their legs.

Now, the roosters get a nice dose of testosterone about a year into their lives, which makes the spur bud grow excessively into a nice long spur. This growth takes a while though, and isn't really noticeable until WELL after all other rooster features have made themselves known. Crowing, sparring, mating, etc all will happen before spurs.

To complicate things, because both genders have the basic bodypart, and it's just a matter of stimulating growth, certain hens with the right body chemistry can and do grow spurs as well. It's a bit of an iffy way to determine gender.

Hope that helps!

 

[hdowden]

Anatomically speaking, the hen's and rooster's foot is exactly the same. They have the same number of toes, and both genders have a 'spur bud' on the back of their legs.

Now, the roosters get a nice dose of testosterone about a year into their lives, which makes the spur bud grow excessively into a nice long spur. This growth takes a while though, and isn't really noticeable until WELL after all other rooster features have made themselves known. Crowing, sparring, mating, etc all will happen before spurs.

To complicate things, because both genders have the basic bodypart, and it's just a matter of stimulating growth, certain hens with the right body chemistry can and do grow spurs as well. It's a bit of an iffy way to determine gender.

Hope that helps!

x2 my parents have a game hen that has some good sized spurs on her. i have yet had a hen with spurs though

 

[Mskayladog]

Thank you all for answering.