Rooster spurs: what are they and why are they needed?

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Spurs grow on the legs of a rooster, which are horny growths. These formations help birds during fights, protecting them from enemy attacks. What are spurs in a rooster, whether they need to be removed and how to do it - a question that remains to be considered in more detail.

General information

So, the spurs of a rooster are special outgrowths on the legs, resembling a nail, since they consist of horny particles as well. At the heart of the spur is the bone part that adheres to the leg bone.

The growth of the considered formations begins from the age of 3 months of the bird. At first it is a small tubercle, then it develops and turns into a spur. By the age of one, it is clearly visible, the formation protrudes 90 degrees in relation to the leg. Then the spur grows by 1-1.5 cm annually, turning into a serious weapon.

Spurs in a rooster are a secondary sexual characteristic, chickens do not have such an appendage. It can only grow in some older layers.

Experts who defend the theory of sexual selection argue that spurs helped the strongestroosters to survive in the process of evolution, since their presence characterized the male as a bright representative of his kind, liked by females and capable of leaving he althy offspring. As you know, females always choose the most attractive and strong "applicant" for procreation.

In any case, the spurs of the rooster (the photo clearly demonstrates them) help the male to show his superiority in the hen house and not only.

Functions of formations. Cockfight

The spur helps males defend themselves in collisions with opponents, but can be an inconvenience for other birds, contributing to their involuntary injury. An adult rooster with spurs can even harm a person if he gets into a fight with the latter.

Fans of cockfights attach special blades to the growths, with which bird fights turn out to be bloody and end faster. Such blades can reach a length of 10 cm, they are one-sided or two-sided. They are attached to one or both legs at once. In some countries, it is considered humane to tie blades to spurs - so a rooster, if it suffers, will not suffer for long. And in other cultures, fans of cock racing, on the contrary, forbid tying blades, forcing birds to fight exclusively with natural spurs.

Of course, not only growths play a role in such competitions. The owners of the petu[jd] choose the strongest and most pugnacious of them, set them on in a special way. In combat, roosters use their beaks to peckenemy. And spurs can hit directly into the eyes and then into the brain, thereby causing the instant death of the "enemy".

By the way, an interesting fact. It is believed that a fight is a natural need for a rooster. If the male refuses to fight, this indicates that he is unwell. And it happens that he dies - from an excess of adrenaline in the body, which needs to get out precisely through a fight.

Removing the "horns"

Growths grow continuously, and therefore their periodic removal is required. This process is not easy, it scares inexperienced poultry farmers. You can cut the spurs of a rooster with a grinder, metal shears, or any other tool that can do this. Although when removed, for example, with ordinary pruners, rooster owners say that the abundance of blood flowing out can create real problems. Therefore, it is better to prefer a slower method, but less traumatic for the bird.

When cutting, leave no more than 1-1.5 cm. After removing the edges, sand them so that they are even and not sharp. To do this, you need a regular file. At the same time, two people can cope with a rooster: one holds, the second “cuts”.

If there is no self-confidence, you can consult a veterinarian to remove the "horns".

How to determine the age of a rooster by spurs?

Horny growths on the legs help determine the age of the bird, which is important when purchasing it. Given that the spur grows by 1 cm per year, and the initial thickening appears at the age of 3-5 months, at two years the length of the growth will be 2.5-2.7 cm.

Soa small tubercle will indicate that we have a young cockerel in front of us, and a formed large and hard horn characterizes an adult.

However, the process of spur formation depends on the breed. And not all representatives of the cock family can determine the age by growths. For example, bantam women have spurs that look like needles, and age cannot be determined from them.