The Heritage Rhode Island Red Site

[michaelf]

Here are a few of my teenagers

 

[SallyinIndiana]

I'm thinking I want to cut / saw off some spurs. I am looking at buying a dremel tool to complete the task. It is supposed to have little to no blood. Any thoughts?
Is the dremel the best approach to removing spurs? Is there a dremel model that is better than others?

 

[cmom]

I'm thinking I want to cut / saw off some spurs. I am looking at buying a dremel tool to complete the task. It is supposed to have little to no blood. Any thoughts?
Is the dremel the best approach to removing spurs? Is there a dremel model that is better than others?

I have never cut off spurs but I did twist off some spurs off that were getting pretty long on one of my boys a few days ago. This is how I do it.

 

[Irishhenman]

I'm thinking I want to cut / saw off some spurs.  I am looking at buying a dremel tool to complete the task.  It is supposed to have little to no blood.  Any thoughts? 
Is the dremel the best approach to removing spurs?  Is there a dremel model that is better than others? 

If you can get a small soldering iron there is a very easy method. Just get hold the spur with a pliers and twist off the outer casing and then with a wire cutters or the cutting part of the pliers cut the spur down to around 1cm then put the soldering iron on it and it won't grow back for a couple of years. Very quick and easy and cockerels don't get distressed as long as you are careful with the iron.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

My guy actually likes me and my Dh. We treated him for bumblefoot a couple months back. Ever since then he comes to us and catching him is not a game off chase at all. But his spurs, well I'm just nervous for the hens. I hatched out many more roos than hens this season and I don't want to loose a hen.

 

[desertmarcy]

My guy actually likes me and my Dh. We treated him for bumblefoot a couple months back. Ever since then he comes to us and catching him is not a game off chase at all. But his spurs, well I'm just nervous for the hens. I hatched out many more roos than hens this season and I don't want to loose a hen.

If his spurs are getting too long and dangerous for the hens, you can twist them off. Just take a pair of pliers, grab the spur with the pliers, and twist. The outer horny layer will come off. It will bleed, you can put some quick stop or corn starch or something like that to ease the bleeding. He will be sore for a few days, but the spur will be much shorter and safer for the hens.

 

[monnie662]

If his spurs are getting too long and dangerous for the hens, you can twist them off. Just take a pair of pliers, grab the spur with the pliers, and twist. The outer horny layer will come off. It will bleed, you can put some quick stop or corn starch or something like that to ease the bleeding. He will be sore for a few days, but the spur will be much shorter and safer for the hens.

I need to do this too. Should I put him up in a cage so he won't get it dirty?

 

[desertmarcy]

I need to do this too. Should I put him up in a cage so he won't get it dirty?

If you have a separate place to put him, I would, so the others don't try to pick at him when they see blood. Do you have some blood stop powder? I'd use that if you do. It should dry up pretty soon, but you are in a humid climate, so I'd put something on it.

 

[monnie662]

I went out the other night to lock up chickens and looked behind the barn and there was a little almost all white baby skunk moseying down the horse path heading to the fence headed down the fence toward the pond and went out of sight, thank goodness the puppy didn't see it or I'd had a mess. Then yesterday it was feeding time and there was a border collie mix standing at the gate with a collar and broken chain and the dogs chased it off and last night there is was when I was locking up the chickens and that time I ran it off up into the woods and followed it some to make it go home, never seen it before but will start looking around to see who it might belong too. Don't need any more "surprises".

 

[Fred's Hens]

I hatched out a pullet that is the darkest featured bird I've ever hatched, I believe. Super dark horn beak, face, and so on. I need to pose her and a photo of her, although at her age, 8 weeks, it won't be easy and I'm not photographer.
I think she's beautiful. If it stops blowing and spitting rain, I'll see if I can snap a photo of her.

What do you all think about a young pullet taking on such a dark "complexion" at such a young age?

I also need to handle her and be sure the darkness is deep red, not black.