Rooster Spurs

[enoryz]

What is the best way to deal with rooster spurs. I've seen all kinds of videos. I watched one video of a guy using a grinder. It seemed to work pretty good. He cut it off pretty close to the leg with no blood. Has anyone else used this method?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I just use a big dog nail trimmer and clip the ends off 2-3 times a year.

 

[enoryz]

How close to the leg do you clip? What if I clip too close and it starts bleeding? Should I put something on it? His are a lil over a half inch long but my wife went in the pen with a flappy jacket and I guess he didn't like it and got her on the leg.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I read lots of posts and watched a few videos, and it didn't go well.

First, the Dremel attachment we bought was probably all wrong. I think it's too thick. It started to cut nicely, and then it seemed to get hung up and wouldn't go any further. My rooster flinched, the quick started bleeding a lot, and we panicked.

So I used cat claw trimmers to finish, but the key is to nip off small amounts at a time, or you could fracture the spur. It took quite a while for the bleeding to stop. This is normal, but it's alarming when the procedure doesn't go well.

I was aiming to remove a quarter inch. His spurs were like sharpened swords from lots of epsom salt baths. Someone pointed out that I probably only needed to remove the tips and nothing more, so I think I also was too agressive in how much I tried to remove.

If your rooster's are only half an inch and not pointy, I personally would leave them alone. But I do know some people remove them down to the leg. Hopefully someone else can offer some suggestions on what to do. The idea with the Dremel is the heat cauterizes the bleeding. In our case it didn't at all.

Spurs can be trimmed, but a friend told me her first time didn't go well, either. So start with a small trim, file it smooth if he'll hold still for you, and decided what to do from there.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How close to the leg do you clip? What if I clip too close and it starts bleeding? Should I put something on it? His are a lil over a half inch long but my wife went in the pen with a flappy jacket and I guess he didn't like it and got her on the leg.

There is a vein in the spur same as nails, I tend to cut up to the vein. If you are looking to shorten them more you can, it will definitely bleed.

If you bleed them some Kwikstop, made for dogs can be used. Otherwise flour, cornstarch, plain old dirt, and I even red spider webs have been used to stop bleeding. I personally would use the flour or cornstarch if you don't have Kwikstop. Just take a pinch and push it into the nail.

 

[song of joy]

I just remove the spur cap with a pair of pliers. For me, this is safer and easier than cutting the spur due to the risk of cutting the bone within the spur cap.

The attached link shows how to use the pliers at the base of the spur to twist off the spur cap. I do the same thing, but I skip the part where a hot baked potato is used. I've found this is really not necessary.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Need to use a cutting head disc for it to cauterize it so it will not bleed but steady hand and no fear is the key hesitate you have a mess

 

[LovesAGoodYolk]

it's just like trimming your finger nails. cut them too short and it will bleed and hurt.

 

[Stayc]

I just remove the spur cap with a pair of pliers. For me, this is safer and easier than cutting the spur due to the risk of cutting the bone within the spur cap.

The attached link shows how to use the pliers at the base of the spur to twist off the spur cap. I do the same thing, but I skip the part where a hot baked potato is used. I've found this is really not necessary.

Omg!! That looks horrific to me. I only have a cockrel at this point but if that is the grooming necessary i can not do it! To see it bleed means trauma to me!!there has 2 be a better way to maintain these things!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Omg!! That looks horrific to me. I only have a cockrel at this point but if that is the grooming necessary i can not do it! To see it bleed means trauma to me!!there has 2 be a better way to maintain these things!

Trim them with a dog nail trimmer. It doesn't hurt unless you bleed them. That's how I do it.