how do I trim my roosters spurs

[chickachicka12345]

how should I trim my roosters spurs? they are kind of tripping him. he is tame and I can pick him up. anysuggestions welcome(even crazy ones!)

 

[Ridgerunner]

If they are tripping him you need to do something. The spurs have a quick in them so if you cut too deeply they will bleed. That bleeding is not life threatening or all that painful but it can be upsetting to you and I try to avoid it. You might want a handful of flour or cornstarch handy to throw on and stop the bleeding.

Some people use dog nail clippers. I use a Dremel tool with that disc you use to cut metal. Others use a Dremel tool or drill with a grinding head to start at the tip and grind them away.

Spurs come in different colors. With some you can see the quick so you know how deeply you can cut. With a lot of them you cannot see the quick. Usually if you take off 1/4 or less of the spur you will miss the quick but each one is different.

My goal is not to totally remove them but to blunt the sharp tip so they don't cut up the hens or grow into their legs. I don't know if that is enough to solve your problem. If you cut deeper you will have bleeding. You should be able to control that with flour or cornstarch. I can't totally dismiss the risk of infection if you cut into the quick, but I've done that a few times and it has never been a problem.

To control him I wrap him in a blanket or large towel. I usually don't wrap the head but make sure you get his wings. Usually they just calmly lay there, even if you hit the quick, but hang onto a leg in case he does try to get away. I do this by myself but some people find it helps to have an assistant.

After I'm finished I return him to the flock. He usually mates a hen to show he is back and is still boss, then goes on with his life.

 

[chickachicka12345]

they are not tripping him YET. but I am worried they will because they are close to doing so.

 

[Folly's place]

We also use a dremel, because our standard birds especially have spurs too hard to trim with anything else. It's easiest with two people, one to hold the bird and the other to use the dremel. Cut back far enough that his spurs aren't causing problems, and smooth or round the cut ends so they aren't sharp.
Roosters occasionally will have a spur rip off, and it will bleed a bit, but not dangerous. Happened to one of ours this fall, have no idea how he managed to do it to himself!
Mary

 

[Penpal]

You can also use (human) toenail clippers

 

[Folly's place]

Not for those dense standard rooster spurs!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Couldn't even clip the tips off Rojo's with side cutters! Tough as horse hooves!

 

[chickachicka12345]

I believe it!! they can be tough!!