Trimming your roosters spurs

[psnider1968]

How many of you trim your roosters spurs?

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I have never trimmed spurs until this year when my big roo accidentally (I hope) spurred a hen badly while getting on or off. She had two huge cuts under her wings and had to be separated and treated. We measured his spurs and they were almost 3" long!

We didn't trim the spur, we pulled off the outer sheath. You get someone to hold the bird wrapped in a towel to make sure he doesn't hurt himself or you, then you take a pair of pliers and rotate them back and forth until the outer sheath of the spur comes off. Do not rock it back and forth but twist it. With a twisting back and forth motion this does not hurt the bird. You will eventually feel the spur sheath pop loose at which time you can just slide it off. There will be a shorter spur shaft under this. It may bleed slightly at first but quickly stops. Then do the other spur. In a couple of months or so you can do it again and his spurs will be even shorter. We did spray some BluCote on the spurs to stop possible infection. He was sore for a day or two, but no other problems.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have one rooster, and my hens do look a little tough, but since this roo has become a year old, I have not lost a hen to a day time predator, so I have left the spurs on. but I have wondered if I should.

MrsK

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I wouldn't worry about spur trimming unless he's doing damage to your hens. As I said, I've had this boy for three years and never had a reason to trim his spurs until he cut a hen.

That being said, I've never had a rooster actually fight a predator with spurs. Usually they just herd the hens to a safer location.

 

[RedDrgn]

I wouldn't worry about spur trimming unless he's doing damage to your hens. As I said, I've had this boy for three years and never had a reason to trim his spurs until he cut a hen.

That being said, I've never had a rooster actually fight a predator with spurs. Usually they just herd the hens to a safer location.

Ours herds everyone to safety and stays between the perceived threat and them until the threat passes...unless it's a human stranger. Then he sets them on their way and shoots like a rocket at the stranger with spurs and beak a'blazin'. He's a speciesist, but then again, the strange people technically are the greatest threats.