Gotta deal with spurs

[tdgill]

My hens are starting to show some wear
looking for my pedipaws and clippers, cringing at the thought of pliers, wondering about hot potatoes, vet wrap and a rubber eraser or sparring gloves. At the moment I have them separated for a bit. Where should I start? Like to just be able to trim the spurs minimally and not see the hens lose feathers. Does it work just filing off the tip of the spur? or do you have to be more thorough. and I wanted to make note when he's doing his thang, if his toenails are just as much the culprit.

 

[Marlinchaser]

Take your handy dandy Dremel tool, and cut the spur off even with the leg, quick, and cauterizes at the same time.

 

[tdgill]

sounds quick and almost painless. at least not as much pain as he probably is causing the hens? Didnt I read a post of yours and you mention the particular wheel you used?

 

[Marlinchaser]

I posted it somewhere, but if you look in the dremel section its a thin wheel designed to cut small bolts.

 

[tdgill]

gotcha. thanks. will have to look for some video first. lol. I'm chicken

 

[onthespot]

I have seen an experienced chicken person just twist off the old spur. It comes off and leaves a smaller, same shape appendage that is pink/red and grows over with new spur, much smaller, like a younger bird.

 

[tdgill]

yeah, have been looking at that also.

Any other input on how ppl like to do (or not do) spurs?

 

[onthespot]

I take dog toenail clippers and just blunt the end myself.

 

[Marlinchaser]

Quote:
You bring that bird for a visit, it will take about 30 seconds.

 

[Freeholder]

I know an older lady who has been raising poultry all her life, and she showed me how to use pliers to twist the spur off. It's basically a horny shell over a fleshy interior; it barely bleeds, if at all, and doesn't seem to bother the rooster a bit. He does grow new spurs, so it has to be repeated about once a year, but it protects the hens in the meantime. And almost everyone has a pair of pliers around someplace!

Kathleen