Help! Failed attempt at spur removal!

[PoisonIvy]

Help! After reading, reading & reading some more, I felt fairly confident in trying to remove my roo's spurs. Using a cutting wheel on a Dremel tool seemed to be the best route. Cogburn didn't put up a fight and everything seemed like it was going to work, until I started cutting. Erring on the side of caution, I started barely down the spur, basically just cutting the tip...and there was so much blood! We couldn't even finish! I tried to make a second go at it, but he started trying to pull his foot away as if it was hurting him. I got the bleeding to stop, and he seems ok now and walks fine. I feel so horrible!! What did I do wrong? And what do I do now?

 

[loveourbirds]

if you have the bleeding stopped, he is fine. their spurs are like dog's toenails - filled with quick. the best method I have found is a good quality pair of dog nail clippers and cut at the tip working your way back until they just start to bleed.

another method - they will bleed when you do this but its great for extra long spurs. take a pair of pliers and twist around the spur wiggling it back and forth, an outer shell will come off - this shortens them a lot, and they wont grow back as fast.

 

[PoisonIvy]

I'm sure that blood-wise, it seemed worse than it really was. I was expecting *some* blood, but at the time, it really seemed like he was bleeding like a stuck pig. And I really thought that by starting just barely down from the tip, there would be only a little blood if any...man was I wrong! Should I wait before trying a different method? Should I put some antibacterial salve on it?

 

[loveourbirds]

if it would make you feel better the salve might help a little. sometimes there is a lot of blood. I would let him heal some before trying it again. if you have a local chicken person, they might be able to show you the other technique I was talking about. in case you didn't know, corn starch is great for stopping bleeding.

 

[PoisonIvy]

I used flour for the bleeding...it made a mess, mostly on my blood soaked hands, but it worked. I'll remember the corn starch for next time. Thanks for the help, I feel a whole lot better now. I've had my 2 chickens for almost a year, and my 2 ducks for over 2 years, and I'd never, ever, do anything to intentionally hurt them, I love them all so much! This whole ordeal really wigged me & my husband both out!

 

[loveourbirds]

I remember being exactly where you are at now. if you ever post and cant get an answer feel free to pm me, ill do my best to help you along. if I cant help you I will find someone who can.

 

[PoisonIvy]

Thank you so much!

 

[PrettyLacedFeathers]

It's okay. : ) The bleeding stopped right? I am a dog groomer's assistant and sometimes while clipping their nails we cut the end of the quick and they bleed a little. As long as you didn't cut really high up and bleeding stopped your okay. This happens sometimes. I use to cry to because I try really hard not to quick any animal. You can use some flour or corn starch to help stop the bleeding.

 

[loveourbirds]

It's okay. : ) The bleeding stopped right? I am a dog groomer's assistant and sometimes while clipping their nails we cut the end of the quick and they bleed a little. As long as you didn't cut really high up and bleeding stopped your okay. This happens sometimes. I use to cry to because I try really hard not to quick any animal. You can use some flour or corn starch to help stop the bleeding.

Thank you so much!

you are welcome, im just a PM away if you need me.

 

[PoisonIvy]

Yeah, I got it stopped with flour & pressure. It wigged hubby out so bad, he swears he's not helping me next time. Causing one of our pets to bleed really put him off.