How to clip spurs

[pnp4kidz]

Can some one give me the quick and dirty on spur clipping...
My frizzle roo has some pin sharp daggers going on, they curve up and back, and are about 3 in. long (he's a banty!)
he doesn't use them, but they are gonna hurt a hen if I don't cut them...
thanks in advance... I don't want a blood bath like the poor Cuckoo roo gave me when he broke one!

 

[Opa]

I use a Dremel tool with a sanding drum to shorten the spurs. I also blunt the toenails at the same time.

 

[pnp4kidz]

Oh good idea! How far back can I bring them? is there any line that I can't go past???

 

[mypicklebird]

Hot potato method- look that up. No bleeding, and the roos I have done- the spur does NOT grow back. Takes 3 min per spur!

 

[pnp4kidz]

Hmm.. what does the potato do?
One post said that the potato caused it to bleed... and just twisting it off worked much better...
I'm trying to get a grasp on what the heat does...
does it loosen the tissue?

 

[mypicklebird]

Microwave potato until hot, put on spur to the base (push it on), set timer for 3-5 minutes. Then twist spur off with fingers. No bleeding, squawking or pliers needed. I have done it several times. The spur comes off like 'butter'. The potato cooks the living/growing part of the spur, so it does not grow back. What is left is the bone spur underneath- same thing that would be left if you brute force twisted the spur off with pliers- difference with the potato is that the tissue is killed and the cooked keratin spur slips off the bone rather than having to be brute force pulled/twisted off.