Roosters and spurs...To trim or not to trim

[embkm]

Quote:
A rooster's spur don't affect whether or not the hen loses her back feathers. They lose feathers when a roo is rough mating them or they are too frequently mated. Occasionally hens can get injured by long spurs, but it would be punctures or slashes, not just missing feathers.

 

[Wynette]

I don't despur or trim mine...haven't had any issues. Hope to not ever!

 

[jbowyer01]

WOW now I have no idea what to do! I guess I'll leave them and keep an eye on him. He's a very gentle little man, he only gets rough when one of the hens wont listen to him (like when its time to go into the coop, if they wont go in he chases them in lol) He does the little foot stomp and wing down thing once in while when I try to make him get out of my garden area and then he sits and crows at me but he is such a sweety i just giggle at him.

 

[Treegod]

I have three roosters, all with good sized spurs. I've never had any problems with them, all except that they rough up the feathers a little. Maybe I'll have a go one day to experiment, see what the difference is. But I don't think it's something I need to do.

How big should the spurs be to remove them?

Also do the shorter spurs have more chance of "digging in" to the hens?

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
This thread hasnt been touched in 15 months! until now LOL

 

[Luckytaz]

The problem with hens back, is cause more by his toe nails, than his spurs.

 

[Lbrad7]

I always trim my roosters spurs down to about a half inch, using one of those tiny hacksaws.(about 8 inches long) I prefer them over the dremel because they aren't so noisy and seem to stress the bird less. It does take a min longer though so I guess it could be a wash.

Leaving him a little something left to defend himself and the hens has always been my reasoning for trimming them up instead of going with the pliers.

The reason I trim them is that when I have had to handle a rooster with long spurs, they have cut my hands when I pick them up by the legs. When you pull his legs together they will actually cross over and go into your hand.