I have removed spurs before with the pliers and twist method and it has worked well... but yesterday I tried it for the first time on my main Rooster and it didn't work?!? Spur didn't twist and it bleed at the leg... I felt really bad... does it not work on all roos? Finally cut and dremeled them down a bit so he is fine but now I hesitate to try it on other roos? Thoughts?
I've used a hot potato from the microwave and put it on the spur for about 1 minute and pulled it right off....have to be careful not to touch the roos leg with the hot potato. There's a little bleeding but not much. I then wipe it clean with iodine and let the rooster go on his way. I'm sure there's other ways of despurring a rooster.
i personally perfer not to remove spurs entirely and risk infection- instead i usually just file them down. wrap the rooster in an old towel if he struggles and either clip of the tips of each spur with pet nail clippers and/or use a nail file to round them out. rounded spurs can do very little damage to hens (and to you). it helps to have a second person if you use this method, but it is also possible to do on your own. good luck!
WIll probably use the clip and dremel method in the future... maybe try the hot potato... hated to hurt him and it had worked on other Roosters?
