roo question

[hatchcrazzzy]

my fertility rate has gone from 90 % to 50% i noticed today that my
roos spurs are at least 2 inches long i also watched him try to mount
hens and he seems to be having a hard time staying on could this be
because of the long tallons

 

[hankshens]

The rooster lose their fertilization in the fall and will get it back in the spring. They do make chicken saddles for the hens.

 

[sara]

I'm not sure how many times you plan to ask this same question

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Chicken saddles ?? I just have got to see one of these. I suppose it is for the roo to mount the hen ? Geez, what will I not think of next. Do they make sparkly ones and pink ones and emboildered ones ??

 

[swtangel321]

Quote:
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[crtrlovr]

Quote:
They may be called 'saddles', but really they're more like an apron or cape for the hen's back. This protects her skin and feathers from the roo's nails. I have an SLW hen who was the favorite until the RIRs, BOs, and Aussies grew into mating age,and her back was totally bare. I ordered some from Marion LoPrinzo ?sp mbldesigns or something like that, and yes, as a matter of fact, she did have pink ones and embroidered ones! My Pebbles wears a dark blue denim apron/cape with a yellow daffodil embroidered in the center of it. My neighbor's visiting daughter did a double-take when Pebbles strolled into my neighbor's yard and started digging around her shrubs. Louise told me later, "Peggy said, 'Mama, there's a chicken out here with something on its back... it looks like it's wearing a dress...'". LOL

 

[ivan3]

chickencrazzy wrote: my fertility rate has gone from 90 % to 50% i noticed today that my
roos spurs are at least 2 inches long i also watched him try to mount
hens and he seems to be having a hard time staying on could this be
because of the long tallons

Yes, this can cause a roo to despair and the hens to yelp. It can also cause the roo to tilt right over and off of a 2"x4" roost; spurs crossed/latched together he moves slightly to avoid the dream fox and WHOMP! down into the pine shavings (could hear him over the baby monitor and had to go out and shine flashlight into coop so he could hop back up).
We've been putting off removing spurs (the dremel was dangerous/afraid the torque need to twist them off might lead to other injury).
He's currently having dressing changes every two days for a puncture wound from a Honey Locust thorn - had to pull it out, nearly went through from top to bottom. It's healing up nicely (another couple of wks and he'll have a scar and a some more arthritis). Cass has been using a triangular and round files when we change the dressing and she finally got both spurs off (the roo just napped on my lap while she worked). No blood, nothing sharp remaining.

The pics of the job are here: http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c331/IvanIvanovich/Dispurs/​

 

[sara]

Quote:
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This was a double post

 

[KKluckers]

I think his spurs are probably to long. I would go ahead a trim them and see if fertility goes up. Couldnt hurt? Using pliers I know will cause more discomfort to the bird. I use a hot baked potato. Place it on the spur wait a few minutes, the twist and remove the potato. Use a new potato for both sides. The bird should not even bleed. Really neat technique I have learned.