Rooster Spurs: What Are They And Should You Get Rid Of Them?

Spurs can be pretty scary to look at as they can inflict a fatal blow on a fellow chicken or even cause severe injury to the chicken keeper!

A hit from the rooster spur can be an excruciating experience and, at times, even deadly as it can cause serious infections. Many people and chicken keepers are aware of spurs and know that they cause pain.

If you are someone who has just purchased a young rooster, then you might say there are no spurs on his leg at all, but these little thorny structures appear within a few months' time. With no time, the spur would be all grown and would be one of the rooster's fiercest weapons, which you should definitely stay careful of! As a matter of fact, don't come to a conclusion based on just the spur that your young chick is a chicken or a rooster. How? Well, don't stop here, as this article will answer all your questions about spurs. But why do roosters have the spur is also another crucial question to answer, so continue reading the article to find out the reason.

 Also, check out our other related articles on whether chickens can lay eggs without a rooster and when do roosters start crowing?

What is a spur on a rooster?

Have you seen a pointy, claw-like growth on the back of a rooster's leg? It's the rooster's spur, kind of like a protrusion that has an arch shape that looks like an extra toe on their legs. These spurs are rather like one of the fingernails, but much more shaped and mean. Rooster's spurs are part of its leg bone, which is made up of keratin, similar to its beak. These spurs are like hard nails that can grow very long and sharp over time.

Wondering what's inside the spur? Although it's hard like a bone, it is fleshy and has blood-filled areas. The bony appeal is due to the hard layer of protein known as keratin, which is also found in rhinoceros. In fact, this material is known to give animals dinosaur-like appearances. Read along to learn more about spur.

Rooster's spurs tend to be a violent aspect of its body as they can be fatal to anyone who gets injured by them. But what's interesting is that these are even visible in many hens too. Imagine how sharp it is! The only difference is that the spur is more prominent in roosters than in hens.

Why do roosters need spurs?

Why is it that the rooster needs something as sharp as a spur on its body? Well, there are a couple of fundamental reasons for the spur to exist. A simple one is to let the chicken owner know that they have got a roo on their hands; that is nothing but the fact that they have caught a rooster. Let's look at some significant reasons for having a spur.

The primary reason roosters have spur is to protect themselves and their flock from predators and other dangers. If one of the predators came looking for the rooster to eat, the rooster would puff up its feathers, make a lot of noise, and attack the predator with its pointy spur. At times, the rooster might seem so intimidating and aggressive that it may not need to use its spur. An aggressive rooster needs no spur! The spur's sharp and thick nature is enough to secure them from any impending doom.

The second reason spurs play an essential role in a rooster's life is pecking order. Spurs are like little weapons for a rooster to use to fight against other roosters for hens, as every rooster needs a certain number of hens. If the rooster does not get hens, the situation can turn bloody! Roosters can be involved in fighting each other till one dies, so if you have a couple of roosters together, then ensure you supply them with plenty of hens to avoid bloodshed.

Do all roosters have spurs?

Most chickens show signs of having spurs. In fact, most people are familiar with a rooster's having a spur in the flock, but hens are equally capable of developing them. But certain older hens and Mediterranean hens do develop spurs, so, if you think rooster spurs are an identifying factor for distinguishing between hens and roosters, you should probably look for something else. All chicks have this tiny bump similar to rooster spurs, which indicates an upcoming spur, but do all roosters have spurs? Let's find out.

Ideally, all roosters should have spurs, but there may be exceptions. A unique rooster in a flock may be deprived of spurs. Rooster spurs depend on chickens, the kind of breed you get, and the individual rooster's characteristics. Mostly, spurs in roosters start with a bump that eventually grows to become a spur. From this point on, no farmer can be sure how long it will take for the rooster spurs to grow fully.

For some roosters' spurs, this process won't even get started! For some roosters, the rooster spurs would grow so much that it would cause problems for them while walking, and for some, the spur would fall off in-between its growth. So, prefer buying chickens from a breeder that is most likely to tell you what to expect about spur growth, or else the process of spur growth is a bit tiresome and worrying too. But most of the time, a standard-sized spur for roosters is likely to be the best possibility.

What age do roosters get spurs?

Raising a flock of chickens could be a bit of an anxious task when you have to watch out for their growth. For roosters, the growth of spurs is a definitive question. When do they start to appear? Does it hurt the rooster as it grows? Let's look at some of these answers.

The growth of spurs depends on the individual bird's breed and their individual growth rate. However, fully developed spurs occur in roosters when they are three months old, but for a few, it could take as long as nine months.

As a generic rule, the start of spur growth will be when roosters grow to two to three months of age, and when they reach the age of seven to nine months, the rooster spurs will be fully developed. Some people on their farms use spurs as an identification technique to determine the gender of the birds in their flock, but it is not the most efficient technique as hens tend to have spurs too.

Should I remove my roosters spurs?

Many people who have a rooster or chicken on their farm prefer to remove their spur owing to the spur's painful attack. The fact that rooster spurs instigate aggression in them is the reason why spur removal is popular amongst farmers, but this really isn't a great idea. In fact, it is regarded as highly controversial depending on which methods are used in the removal of spurs.

If you are confused about whether to remove your rooster's spur, you should think twice, as many experts regard it as best to avoid this. It is because a rooster spur is nothing but a bone, or instead, a bone tip to begin with, and if you were to remove it, it could do some significant damage to the rooster. However, if you decide to remove rooster spurs, you have to be extremely cautious. You can have it permanently removed, too, but have a thorough consultation with your veterinarian before going down this path. Instead, you can opt for simple trimming or grooming that could prevent any attack on humans or cause pain for the roosters.

A better alternative would also be to consult a veterinarian when your chicken is still a chick and remove any spurs before they start growing. Although, the catch here is to identify the birds as roosters or hens!

How to trim rooster spurs?

Rooster spurs are somewhat similar to our human nails, so is it possible that as we trim our nails, rooster spurs can be trimmed too? Yes, they can be! Let's see the process and other alternatives to trimming.

Trimming rooster spurs is a good alternative for those worried that removing it completely would adversely affect the rooster and hurt it. This method does not entirely remove the spurs and also prevents any injuries that could be caused on the farm while raising them. A dog trimmer would be sufficient for clipping the ends of their spurs. However, while using the dog trimmer to trim their nails, take care to avoid any bleeding. Another way is the Dremel tool way to grind the rooster spurs into a shorter and safer length. Most chicken owners opt for this method as it prevents infection and blood loss. Somewhat like a pedicure for your rooster!

The last option to remove rooster spurs could be to remove the sheath, the outer layer of the spur. The layers of spurs are similar to tree rings. You might think this method is complex, but it isn't unless you are a little squeamish. Try using a baked hot potato to heat the spur. The potato would be good to warm the spurs and make them easier to remove. Simply put the baked potato on the spur, and the sheath will automatically soften. The sheath will then be off within minutes.

How to deal with problematic rooster spurs?

Roosters are great farm animals to have around, but some cities tend to have laws that prevent people from having the king of the coop. If your city does not have such laws, then do consider having this bird. On the bright side, a rooster is also the best protector for your hen, but how to deal with its pointy spurs? Here are some tricks and tips.

On the outside, do not try to remove the spur as soon as you get the rooster; after all, it's a part of the rooster's leg. While you interact with the rooster, try following some of these habits to avoid any attacks from its spur. If you see that your rooster is being anxious or aggressive, do not turn your back or bend down. Always wear long and strong jeans to avoid puncture wounds from rooster spurs. Have something with you when you enter the coop to guard yourself if you are attacked. If your roo is stressed out, it will always use its spur to defend itself, so follow some of these rules to avoid hurting yourself when in the coop with the rooster.

In worst cases, you can trim the rooster's spurs to deal with problematic spurs; this is an immediate and temporary solution. In situations where the roster's spurs are damaging hens, you can outfit the hens with a distinct masting saddle to protect them.

How to manage non-problematic rooster spurs without removing them?

To remove rooster spurs is not always a solution, and if the rooster is a quiet one that isn't causing any problems, it is best to just leave them alone. Still, if you wish to know some ways to manage these non-problematic rooster spurs without removing them, then here are a few options we recommend.

Ensure the sex ratios of your flock are equal and balanced, as the rooster may get aggressive if he does not get enough hens to guard and fertilize. At the very least, the rooster would need four hens. If you are new to chicken raising, then we recommend you choose a gentler breed that does not cause much trouble for humans. Try opting for a Cochin, Australorp, or Orpington breed of rooster.

To avoid cutting the rooster's spurs, be on your best behavior with it, because remember, roosters will never use their spurs unless they feel threatened. So, train your pets and kids to not tease these roosters to avoid provoking the nasty side of them.

Does de spurring a rooster hurt?

Rooster's spurs have a dual nature associated with them. They can guard the rooster against dangers at the same time, even hurting them if they grow abnormally, so many farm owners prefer to remove them. One of the ways is to de spur it.

Although it is unknown if de spurring a rooster is hurtful to it or not, getting the spur removed at an early age by a veterinarian to avoid any pain for the rooster is a good option.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for rooster spurs, then why not take a look at how does a rooster fertilize an egg or rooster facts.