Hen Growing Spur?

[rosemarythyme]

Some hens grow spurs, some have tiny ones and some much larger. I currently have 2 of 10 girls with spurs, both on the smaller side, but my old head hen had big, thick spurs that I had to tip regularly since they were curled up towards her body.

And yes they can seemingly grow them out of nowhere, spurs don't necessarily begin growing in adolescence. The old hen previously mentioned went broody once somewhere between 1 or 2 years old, and her spurs began growing in after that.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

A bit msisleading. All chickens have the nubs and potential to grow spurs but not all do.

Correct, my other hen does not have spurs, and this one definitely only has one. A third hen I lost in April also had no spurs.

A spur nub is still a spur. I have no idea what you are talking about. Even if your fingernails were very short they would still be fingernails. Both of your replies are misleading－a nub is still a spur. It is just not long.

 

[tlcmurphy]

No, it’s not. All chickens have nubs, a spur is a long protrusion with a nail/spur on the end of it. It looks like she has an extra toe now (it’s not of course) which she didn’t have until recently.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

All chickens have nubs, a spur is a long protrusion with a nail/spur on the end of it.

So are you trying to say now that no chicken has spurs?

 

[tlcmurphy]

So are you trying to say now that no chicken has spurs?

No, I’m saying they all have the nubs (I’m sure there’s a more scientific word for that), and some hens and all roosters (yes?) have spurs.

My original question regards a hen that did not previously have spurs and now has one. I’ll try to get a pic of her from the back today to show you what I’m speaking of. I’m also wondering now if the other spur will grow out too?

 

[Galaxy_rules]

I agree with the others, many hens grow spurs. They shouldn’t be growing at any rate faster than they would on roosters. Since she’s 3, you already know she’s a hen.

 

[JensChickies]

Hey! I remember being shocked seeing a spur on my Langshan for the first time. She is 10 now and her spur has never been a problem, and I have never had to trim it. It adds to her uniqueness LOL.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I guess I’m mostly suffering from a lack of observational skills, I don’t know how long she’s had the spur

 

[tlcmurphy]

I just learned the correct term for the “nub”. It’s actually the spur bud, and yes all chickens have them. It may or may not become an actual spur in hens, and apparently is common in leghorn hens.

 

[JensChickies]

I just learned the correct term for the “nub”. It’s actually the spur bud, and yes all chickens have them. It may or may not become an actual spur in hens, and apparently is common in leghorn hens.

I like the "nub" terminology better!