My buff bantam cochin Cockerel has no spurs

[Wolfefarmyard]

Hello, everyone. So I've had a buff bantam cochin boy for about a year and a half. He is a beautiful blonde boy with tons of fluff on his legs. Because of his densely feathered legs, I never get a good look at his legs. However, this morning he came up to snuggle and I decided to pick him up and get a good look at his legs. To my surprise there were no spurs. Some breeds take a while to develop spurs but he is a year and a half old so he should have them by now. I'm very confused why he doesn't have them. Thank you

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Not all roosters will get long spurs, while some hens will get spurs longer than a rooster's! It's all included with the 'every chicken is different' saying. I don't think anything is wrong with him if that's what you're wondering.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Not all roosters will get long spurs, while some hens will get spurs longer than a rooster's! It's all included with the 'every chicken is different' saying. I don't think anything is wrong with him if that's what you're wondering.

Yes, I've heard that hens can get them. Especially Mediterranean breeds, one of my silkie hens actually has spurs. But I wasn't sure about boys not having them. Is it okay for me to still show him and not get any points taken off?

 

[Kessel23]

Roosters spurs seems to go through growth spurts, in my experience, RIR Roosters don't get very long spurs until they are 2 or 3 years old, the first year my roosters usually have very short blunt spurs, every time they molt they put around 1/2 in. onto their spurs. My 4 year old RIR has 2 1/2 inch long spurs that have a sharp white tip, he is scary to get hit by. I'm sure your rooster will get spurs eventually, i'm not sure if spurs are graded in shows, it seems unfair because then older birds would get more points. I agree that the spurs should at least be started at this age, I have no experience with Bantam Cochin but I do have some experience with bantams, they usually grow spurs faster than heavy breeds like the RIR, well at least my bantams did. Some bantam breeds are really slow to develop, some chickens of the same breed are slower to develop than others.

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Is it okay for me to still show him and not get any points taken off?

I'm not sure about showing...I'm going to start showing this summer

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Roosters spurs seems to go through growth spurts, in my experience, RIR Roosters don't get very long spurs until they are 2 or 3 years old, the first year my roosters usually have very short blunt spurs, every time they molt they put around 1/2 in. onto their spurs. My 4 year old RIR has 2 1/2 inch long spurs that have a sharp white tip, he is scary to get hit by. I'm sure your rooster will get spurs eventually, i'm not sure if spurs are graded in shows, it seems unfair because then older birds would get more points. I agree that the spurs should at least be started at this age, I have no experience with Bantam Cochin but I do have some experience with bantams, they usually grow spurs faster than heavy breeds like the RIR, well at least my bantams did. Some bantam breeds are really slow to develop, some chickens of the same breed are slower to develop than others.

Okay, I hope he doesn't get any points taken off. I plan on eventually using him in one of my breeder pens.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Are ou sure it's a boy?

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Are ou sure it's a boy?

Yes, he has a tail, large comb and wattle, and mates with our other bantam cochin hens.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Yes, he has a tail, large comb and wattle, and mates with our other bantam cochin hens.

Okay!