Hens need spurs removed sometimes, too.

[azygous]

Summer, my five-year old Silver Cuckoo Marans hen, started getting a spur on one leg when she was around two. Then the other leg started growing one. Today, I noticed one spur is curving toward her shank, and I decided it was time to remove them. About two months ago, another hen, a seven-year old Welsummer had the same curved spur issue, and I removed her spurs, so this isn't novel in my flock.

Summer isn't fond of being touched and handled, so I grabbed her when she was at the back door trying to mooch treats with her pals. I brought her into the garage and plopped her down on the work bench. I had already set out the pliers and the Vetericyn spray. I wrapped her loosely in a towel with part of it draped over her head to calm her. She was a very good girl as I grasped the spur at the base close to the shank with my pliers.

Two or three firm twists back and forth, and the spur sheath lifted right off. I sprayed it with the Vetericyn. There was only a thin serum, no real blood. I repeated the operation with the other spur, and we were finished. Summer got six meal worms as a reward.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I've had a few hens who grew spurs as they aged, but thankfully they didn't curve like that. She's a very pretty lady by the way!

 

[bhawk-23]

What are they like when it heals? Does the keratin grow back eventually? It it similar to ripping a nail off? I'm sorry for all the questions that may seem silly, but I've just started researching about this topic. I appreciate the description of how along with pictures Thank you!

 

[azygous]

Short answer - yes, the spurs grow back in about a year to a hard, cutaneous finish, and they will continue to grow longer until filed down or the sheath is removed again.

When you twist and loosen the outer spur, it will easily lift off and expose the fleshy, wet nub that's the true spur. In about a week after removal, the soft, wet nub dries and forms a thin cutaneous layer that is hard like your finger nails. Over the next year, layer upon layer of cutaneous material is formed, resulting in a hard, "horn".

I have several hens with only one spur. Summer, the hen pictured in this thread, is in need of her spurs removed again.

Yes, there is no doubt some pain involved, but it's quickly mitigated with a meal worm treat. I don't believe it hurts as much as having one of our fingernails ripped off since we have so many more nerve endings in our finger tips than chickens have in their spur nubs. A closer analogy to having our fingernail ripped off is when a chicken injures their beak into the "quick". They have a similar nerve structure in their beak as we have in our finger tip.

 

[bhawk-23]

Short answer - yes, the spurs grow back in about a year to a hard, cutaneous finish, and they will continue to grow longer until filed down or the sheath is removed again.

When you twist and loosen the outer spur, it will easily lift off and expose the fleshy, wet nub that's the true spur. In about a week after removal, the soft, wet nub dries and forms a thin cutaneous layer that is hard like your finger nails. Over the next year, layer upon layer of cutaneous material is formed, resulting in a hard, "horn".

I have several hens with only one spur. Summer, the hen pictured in this thread, is in need of her spurs removed again.

Yes, there is no doubt some pain involved, but it's quickly mitigated with a meal worm treat. I don't believe it hurts as much as having one of our fingernails ripped off since we have so many more nerve endings in our finger tips than chickens have in their spur nubs. A closer analogy to having our fingernail ripped off is when a chicken injures their beak into the "quick". They have a similar nerve structure in their beak as we have in our finger tip.

Thank you for a thorough and honest reply. I am hoping to only file any sharp points but it is also good to be prepared for any unexpected issues. I am trying to be prepared for everything with our young cockerel. Impossible, I know. But one can still try, right?? Hahahaha

 

[aart]

Thank for posting this....cock bird needs his done and this is the technique I was contemplating.

 

[Sally PB]

About how much shorter is the spur after this is done?

Thankfully, my cockerel's spurs are still just blunt nubs about 3/8-1/2 inch long.

 

[azygous]

I'd guess the nub is about half the length of the outer spur. In about a year, the spur is about back to where it was before it was removed.

 

[aart]

I'd guess the nub is about half the length of the outer spur.

Might depend on how long the spur is to begin with.
This from a cock I slaughtered was curious how much space the 'nub' took up.
~1/2" of solid tip, the rest was hollow.

 

[bhawk-23]

Might depend on how long the spur is to begin with.
This from a cock I slaughtered was curious how much space the 'nub' took up.
~1/2" of solid tip, the rest was hollow.
View attachment 2515080

So the nub was about 1.25 inches with the nail only about 1/2 inch? If you were to remove the spur on a live rooster, the 1.25 inch nub would still be present then? Just missing the dangerous hard tip?