Rooster Spurs

[Mrs.Woodbaby]

Is there a way to neutralize the sharpness of a rooster's spurs so he won't keep poking holes in his hens as he mounts them? I now have 2 of 4 hens with holes in their sides where the rooster's spur sliced them open (they are stable, on meds, and recovering). I've had to isolate the rooster but can's keep him there forever! Any helpful advice appreciated!!

 

[dadsdeercamp]

Hi, hello &

from Minnesota i cut a roos spurs with a hack saw once it worked fine just dont cut to short

 

[MattalynsBarn]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=37548

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1216

Hope that helps!

 

[OregonChickenGal]

Go to YouTube and type in: rooster spur removal. It's a simple procedure that involves no cutting. A judge at a chicken show, showed this guy how to do this. You simply twist the spur and it comes right off. There's more than 1 video on this subject. Hope this helps.

 

[Attack Chicken]

Either trim/saw them.
Removed the outer spurr (Twisting with plyers on the spurr,the cover will come off and leave a new little spurr behind that will harden.)
Put saddles on the hens
Put spurr muffs on the rooster.

Hope this helps

 

[Neil Grassbaugh]

Common misconception.

It is the inside toe nail that causes the most damage to the female's back. Not the spur.

In industrial breeder flocks we permanately remove the ends of the toes on the prospective male breeders at the hatchery. Nothing is done to manage the length of the spur but a typical breeder male management program is to use two subsequent sets of cockerels with each flock of hens. Completely replacing the males half way through the laying cycle keeps fertility up and the spurs do not have time to grow very long.

Keep the inside toenail dull by trimming it as well when you trim back the spur. Chickens on range and litter tend to have much sharper toenails than those on partial void flooring material like is used in commercial applications.

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

1 - Got to keep the nails clipped!!! Holy crap those little buggers are SHARP and they do damage.

2 - Spurs - our boys are big fat marshmellows, and show some in 4-H and such, so we do the baked potato method. Works slick as snot and keeps them looking nice.

 

[Thatchickenguy]

U can file them smooth