Spurs on my hen?

[sharonpavey]

Has anyone had a hen with spurs? I received 2 hens for my birthday from my kids. The feed store where they were bought said they were Production Reds. One of them lays very fragile eggs that break when my broody hen tries to sit on them and she either has spurs or a high 5th toe. She is definitely a hen but the spur has me baffled.


Sharon in Texas

 

[Blackberry18]

Yes, hens can sometimes have spurs, which make using spurs a sexing sign unreliable.

 

[CascadiaRiver]

Can we get a pic? And yes hens can get sours depending per breed,

 

[Blackberry18]

Can we get a pic? And yes hens can get sours depending per breed,

It can depend on the breed, but also genetics.

 

[sharonpavey]

Thanks for the quick replies. Who knew? I'll try to send pictures. She's the sweetest hen I have. Loves to be petted and follows me everywhere. Her name is Bertie.

 

[CascadiaRiver]

How old, and any chance you could get a face photo?

 

[sharonpavey]

Not sure how old she is. My daughters got her from the local feed store on April 25th so I haven't had her for even a month yet. She is laying but the eggs are pretty fragile and the color is varying shades of brown. I also call her pucker lips.

 

[Wyandottes7]

I've never personally had a hen with spurs, but I know that it does happen to older, dominant hens occasionally.

 

[BantamLover21]

I've never personally had a hen with spurs, but I know that it does happen to older, dominant hens occasionally.

x2

 

[sharonpavey]

I don't think she's very old and she's very docile. The 2 older hens, a Red Sex Link and an Australorp both let her know her place in the pecking order. I'm about convinced it's just an anomaly with her. Maybe a 5th toe. I'm not going to be concerned about it. Was just curious. Thanks for all the replies.