Spurs on a Rooster.

wickedwings · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:36 am

Here I was hoping you'd go first! :-D

OakA · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:38 am

"Where there is a will, there is a way" !!!!!!
Any small bag with a corner cut out for his head to come through and breath is a suitable restraint if you can't hold the bird alone, or wrap him in a towel to restrain him.
If I can't do a job alone it does not get done so I find a way.
I can even dub a ckl alone as well as many other tasks usually performed with assistance.
I would use the small fret saw or fine hacksaw to cut the spur back.
The dog trimmers or secateurs are only to remove the sharp tips if that is all that is required, neither are suitable to remove a thick solid spur down close to the leg.
Hold the fowl under one arm with the leg to be worked on outstretched and place the spur on a solid wooden surface, bench, fence post etc, cut the spur to the required length, then do the other leg.
It is a simple proceedure , it just must be thought through as to how you can best achieve it.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:55 am

Oaklands wrote:

[smilie=a_doh.gif]
"Where there is a will, there is a way" !!!!!!
Any small bag with a corner cut out for his head to come through and breath is a suitable restraint if you can't hold the bird alone, or wrap him in a towel to restrain him.
If I can't do a job alone it does not get done so I find a way.
I can even dub a ckl alone as well as many other tasks usually performed with assistance.
I would use the small fret saw or fine hacksaw to cut the spur back.
The dog trimmers or secateurs are only to remove the sharp tips if that is all that is required, neither are suitable to remove a thick solid spur down close to the leg.
Hold the fowl under one arm with the leg to be worked on outstretched and place the spur on a solid wooden surface, bench, fence post etc, cut the spur to the required length, then do the other leg.
It is a simple proceedure , it just must be thought through as to how you can best achieve it.

Oaklands,

Please forgive my greenness and lack of imagination [smilie=sorry.gif]

Hens and Hobbits

Ben n Deb · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 12:31 pm

when we transport our birds short distances, we do it at night, and in used feed bags which we cut holes in for them to breath through. We don't poke heads out as they could get stuck...

However, they sit very quiet when in the bags, so that would probably be a good way to keep him still, especially at night as they are usually quiet then.

wickedwings · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 4:12 pm

Oaklands,
That's some good advice thankyou. I was just thinking of removing the tip to lessen the damage he can cause but how far back do you suggest I take it?

beccy boo · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 5:38 pm

hey i have a good idea but dont no if it would work. how about using a lamb ring? would that work?

OakA · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 5:57 pm

Reading back to your original post Wicked Wings, I see your ckl is only 10 mths old.
I doubt if at that age his spurs are a length to require cutting back, at that age they will hardly be sharp.
If they are a piece of sandpaper should take off any sharp edges after you just take any sharp tips off.
More likely he is "feeling his oats" and needs some education that to attack humans is not acceptable, carry a garden rake or a piece of poly pipe to deter him from attacking.
The use of a lamb ring is useless at this or any age.
As for transporting fowls in a bag, head in or out is an illegal practice here in NSW, the RSPCA takes a very dim view of the practice, heavy fines and prosecution are likely.
My suggestion of using a bag was only as a temporary restraining measure so he did not struggle and injure himself.

beccy boo · **Posted:** Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:17 pm

here are some pictures of my roster red. he is very old and hes spurs are pretty long.

wickedwings · **Posted:** Tue Aug 30, 2011 7:21 am

Oaklands wrote:

Reading back to your original post Wicked Wings, I see your ckl is only 10 mths old.
I doubt if at that age his spurs are a length to require cutting back, at that age they will hardly be sharp.
If they are a piece of sandpaper should take off any sharp edges after you just take any sharp tips off.
More likely he is "feeling his oats" and needs some education that to attack humans is not acceptable, carry a garden rake or a piece of poly pipe to deter him from attacking.
The use of a lamb ring is useless at this or any age.
As for transporting fowls in a bag, head in or out is an illegal practice here in NSW, the RSPCA takes a very dim view of the practice, heavy fines and prosecution are likely.
My suggestion of using a bag was only as a temporary restraining measure so he did not struggle and injure himself.

You're right, he is only young and this is the first I've noticed that his spurs are becoming a problem but my wife has 4 puncture wounds to verify their effectiveness. Unfortunately at least one of the wounds is at the same head-height as our five year old and I dread to think what might happen to her if he attacks her.

OakA · **Posted:** Tue Aug 30, 2011 8:03 am

Get rid of him!!
If he has attacked and left punctures, removing the spurs won't remove the aggression he is showing, it will only get worse.
Carrying a rake or poly pipe will only ward him off temporarily not remove the problem.
Don't take the risk with your daughter being injured or even frightened in any way.
There is another equally as good fowl out there that is quiet and reliable around your family, you just have to find him.
Not all males are aggressive, but those that are generally get worse with age.

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