Written by: Dr. Jacquie Jacob, University of Kentucky
Rooster spurs, as shown above, can cause serious damage when roosters fight or when roosters mount females for mating. It is possible to purchase saddles to put on the back of hens to protect them from the spurs, but it may also be necessary to trim the spurs of the roosters.
The rooster spur can be trimmed with a saw, but it is important to not cut more than one third of the spur off. Any closer and you may cut blood vessels and cause the bird to bleed out. Make sure to file down the sharp edges of the remaining spur.