Why shorten a roosters spurs?
• Spurs can be shortened to help with several problems: • Some roosters’ spurs grow so long and at angles that make it difficult for a rooster to walk comfortably. • Shortening a rooster’s spurs (along with trimming toenails and filing end of beak) can help make it less hazardous if it is aggressive around people. • When an rooster is causing hens to become too barebacked from breeding, shortening spurs (along with trimming toenails) might help alleviate damage to hens. • When roosters are first introduced or one rooster or is persistently over-aggressive with others, blunting one or more rooster’ spurs can help minimize injuries. • There is a sensitive “quick” center (similar to the “quick” in dogs’ toenails) in the base section of a spur. Inside light-colored spurs, the “quick” can be seen vaguely as a darker, reddish area. The layers in the outer shell of the spur and the end of the spur are not sensitive (though if you press too hard at an angle against these, the base of the spur
