To trim or to Remove Spurs?

[Jimmybeam01]

I’ve cut them and they have bled for a while but I’ve never noticed any major issues. But I tried a new method, take a black marker and a flash light that’s real bright, try to clean up his spur and shine through to see where the tissue starts and the removable or cuttable part is so you avoid cutting that tissue. Use your black marker to mark it to make it easier

 

[pineapple416]

I recommend trimming them carefully so it doesn't bleed and/or filling them down.

 

[Fishkeeper]

I admit, I've never seen or heard of this done, but I wonder if it would be possible to somehow fasten part of a cork onto each spur? Maybe one of those artificial, sort of plasticky corks. Cover the tip of the spur with the cork, fasten it on with something like strong tape or glue, and monitor to be sure the spur didn't get too long.

 

[Crazyredhead]

Why ASAP?
Depends on the problem as to what would be the best solution.

Because they are so long and sharp I don’t want him to get hurt or hurt the girls and my husband is home this weekend to help me. I keep forgetting to do it and feel like crap for it getting so bad

 

[Crazyredhead]

Trimming is preferable.

Removing spurs is like pulling out your fingernails by using molten lead and wire pliers.

Well the people that take them off say it doesn’t hurt and that there is another spur underneath. Which is what confuses me so. I see different methods of trimming some seem easy some seems stupid idk. I just want it to be shorter I don’t want to hurt him and I don’t want the girls to get hurt either. I have had him for 5 + yrs and this has just become a problem. I guess maybe they broke themselves. I have 4 other younger roosters so I feel like I better learn what to do.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I’ve cut them and they have bled for a while

Blood will attract the other birds to pick at the wounds. Then a cannibal situation emerges. No need to trim spurs on a Rooster on our farm. Having 20 of them currently and had a greater number last month. Unless the Bird has mobility problems, I feel it is unreasonable to trim spurs.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Well the people that take them off say it doesn’t hurt and that there is another spur underneath. Which is what confuses me so. I see different methods of trimming some seem easy some seems stupid idk. I just want it to be shorter I don’t want to hurt him and I don’t want the girls to get hurt either. I have had him for 5 + yrs and this has just become a problem. I guess maybe they broke themselves. I have 4 other younger roosters so I feel like I better learn what to do.

All I can say to that is that the folks who use a scalding hot baked potatoes to cook a roosters spurs down to the quick didn't feel any of the pain that the rooster experienced.

I wrote a detailed description awhile back on how to hold the rooster and what to use to trim his spurs. It can be done in under a minute.... at least if you have some experience.
So search this site for my post about trimming spurs.

 

[Abriana]

Huh. What does that do?

This is all I've ever needed to do.

Gorilla tape keeps them from hurting the hens or me.

 

[Jimmybeam01]

Blood will attract the other birds to pick at the wounds. Then a cannibal situation emerges. No need to trim spurs on a Rooster on our farm. Having 20 of them currently and had a greater number last month. Unless the Bird has mobility problems, I feel it is unreasonable to trim spurs.

yes they do, but with my other reply, i kind of found a cool way to trim them without hitting that flesh, i use a bright flashlight to shine into their spur to see where that flesh begins to avoid cutting that

 

[8 Chicks 1967]

File the tips down a bit and you are good.

always keep this around if you start to get into the quick the spurs will bleed.