Spur trimming frequency?

[leighks]

My cockerel is almost 8 months old now, and his spurs are about 1/2 inch long. How often, on average, should his spurs be trimmed?

I know on dogs, for example, trimming their nails every 6 weeks or so keeps them (and the vein inside) from getting too long. I was wondering if I trim or dremel the spurs every other month or so-before they ever get too long- if that will keep them at their current length consistently.

We will be trimming them not removing them, so I know we will need to do this regularly. We want to keep him- and his hens- comfortable. Also any advise on using a dremel on the spurs would be appreciated too. Thanks.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I feel there is no need for such a procedure. Perhaps someone else has a different point of view.
What would make you feel that this is necessary?

 

[leighks]

From what I’ve read, rooster spurs grow continuously, which can cause problems for them with how they walk. Plus when he mounts the hens the longer spurs jab into their sides.

Trimming the end of the spurs- before the blood vessel- to keep them short would be easier than some of the other methods people use to keep spurs short. I read that you can file the edges w a dremel so they aren’t sharp.

He’s a pet so he will be around for a long time. I’ve seen some horribly long spurs and want to be sure his don’t ever get that bad.

There are no nerves before the blood vessel at the tip, it’s just a hard horny growth- sort of like a dog’s nails. When trimmer properly it doesn’t hurt, and it’s better for him and the hen’s backs. So I’m just trying to find out how others keep the spurs short without the other method of removing them. That way seems painful and likely to get infected, trimming doesn’t hurt.

 

[sourland]

In my experience routine spur trimming has been unnecessary. I have only done so when spurs have become so long as to cause problems with walking. Most hen damage from mating roosters is caused by their toenails raking the sides of the hens or another rooster trying to push a breeding rooster off the hen. It is generally more of a problem with large, clumsy, over aggressive roosters.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

From what I’ve read, rooster spurs grow continuously, which can cause problems for them with how they walk. Plus when he mounts the hens the longer spurs jab into their sides.

Trimming the end of the spurs- before the blood vessel- to keep them short would be easier than some of the other methods people use to keep spurs short. I read that you can file the edges w a dremel so they aren’t sharp.

He’s a pet so he will be around for a long time. I’ve seen some horribly long spurs and want to be sure his don’t ever get that bad.

There are no nerves before the blood vessel at the tip, it’s just a hard horny growth- sort of like a dog’s nails. When trimmer properly it doesn’t hurt, and it’s better for him and the hen’s backs. So I’m just trying to find out how others keep the spurs short without the other method of removing them. That way seems painful and likely to get infected, trimming doesn’t hurt.

Please don't take offense.. but I find it cruel and unusual. I have over 20 Roosters and it has never been an issue. Once the spurs become gigantic on my Large breeds, the males have lost most of their mating desire and the younger ones are doing most of the pillaging & plundering.
I'm just not sold that it could be that much of a threat to your ladies.
But to each their own. So I would not do that personally.
Thank you for taking my opinion with an open mind and not taking offense on my suggestion or preference.

 

[aart]

In my experience routine spur trimming has been unnecessary. I have only done so when spurs have become so long as to cause problems with walking. Most hen damage from mating roosters is caused by their toenails raking the sides of the hens or another rooster trying to push a breeding rooster off the hen. It is generally more of a problem with large, clumsy, over aggressive roosters.

Well stated. Excellent post.

The only spur trimming I've needed to do was to file off the very tip of very sharp spurs just to dull the point. Was done more to protect me, when handling the bird, than the hens.

Spurs are not quite like dog nails, there is not just a vein but also a good bit of tissue inside of the hollow cone of keratin. Here is the outer spur cover I saved when butchering my old cockbird this fall, unfortunately I couldn't get the camera to focus down inside.

I measured with a thin wire and marked on the outside how far the hollow goes in.
You can see where I rounded off the tip.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I know reading on here you can come to that conclusion, that regular spur trimming is necessary. Some people seem to get a kick out of spur trimming. I don’t agree at all. Yes spurs will continue to grow and they can become sharp dangerous weapons. But the vast majority of the time they are not a problem. Some hens grow some pretty large spurs too. I have not seen the spurs dangerously long on my hens but there are a few threads on here with photos that show some tremendous spurs on hens, even curling around where they are growing into the legs.

When they curl around and start to grow back into the leg making a wound they need to be trimmed, whether they are a hen or rooster. It’s possible the spurs can curl around to make it hard for the animal to walk. It’s possible if a hen is barebacked she can be cut. As Sour said that bareback is due to the claws, not the spurs. You’ll do yourself more good blunting the points on the claws than blunting the tip of the spurs if a hen is really barebacked. If the tip of the spurs are sharp, blunting them is also a good idea in this case.

The vast majority of roosters don’t have any of these issues, even when they get older. If there is an issue I don’t consider it cruel at all to treat an issue. If done properly blunting the spurs or claws does not harm the animal or open it up to infection, even if you don’t have a good reason to do it. He’s your cockerel. If you want to and can blunt the spurs and claws without getting into the quick it is not cruel. But don’t think you have to for the benefit of your flock unless you see an actual problem.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I know reading on here you can come to that conclusion, that regular spur trimming is necessary. Some people seem to get a kick out of spur trimming. I don’t agree at all. Yes spurs will continue to grow and they can become sharp dangerous weapons. But the vast majority of the time they are not a problem. Some hens grow some pretty large spurs too. I have not seen the spurs dangerously long on my hens but there are a few threads on here with photos that show some tremendous spurs on hens, even curling around where they are growing into the legs.

When they curl around and start to grow back into the leg making a wound they need to be trimmed, whether they are a hen or rooster. It’s possible the spurs can curl around to make it hard for the animal to walk. It’s possible if a hen is barebacked she can be cut. As Sour said that bareback is due to the claws, not the spurs. You’ll do yourself more good blunting the points on the claws than blunting the tip of the spurs if a hen is really barebacked. If the tip of the spurs are sharp, blunting them is also a good idea in this case.

The vast majority of roosters don’t have any of these issues, even when they get older. If there is an issue I don’t consider it cruel at all to treat an issue. If done properly blunting the spurs or claws does not harm the animal or open it up to infection, even if you don’t have a good reason to do it. He’s your cockerel. If you want to and can blunt the spurs and claws without getting into the quick it is not cruel. But don’t think you have to for the benefit of your flock unless you see an actual problem.

 

[centrarchid]

Interval for repeats usually 2 to 3 years with first trimming done at 3 years. Some never need trimming. Exceptional individuals in brood pen need it by two years.

 

[leighks]

Thanks all for the info.
@aart those pictures were pretty cool!