I've got one little and I mean "little" bantam rooster that is a hoot ! He's about 2 yrs. old and thinks he's pretty big.
I usually keep him in a chicken tractor with 2 hens, but the wind blew off a part of it a few days ago, and they got out. I got the girls gathered up and decided it would be ok to leave him out to free range.
That little rascal has spurs about 1 inch long and is a terror. I went out to feed yesterday and had to keep the feed bucket between me and him. I could't shoo him away, as he kept hitting the feed bucket and just refused to stop. He followed me all around trying to get at me. It was funny because he can't weigh more than 3/4 of a pound, if that. It was not funny, because he really has the ability to hurt someone if you take your eyes off him for a second. He's a stinker. He's so cute cause he's so tiny...............or I'd get rid of him.
DH likes him....................or I might do away with him anyway. Cute or not, it makes me mad when they run up and attack you for no reason.
Ornery Little Bantam Rooster !
We need a Cesar Mulan of chickens!
I got attacked by my own parrot who didn't even come close to 3/4 of a pound. He would literally come after me until he was panting with exhaustion. He finally bit me (and boy can they bite!) and went to live on a birdie farm. Bird brains - who understands them?
Snap the spurs off or dremmel them down short enough so he can't do any damage
Its hard to explain but you can take plyers and clamp on to the spur and twist
It should snap off ....yes there will be a smaller spur under it and yes there will be bleeding
(a Judge at a show showed me this,)
and he probably won't breed for a few months,sore ankles..........(The bird,not the judge)
I prefer the dremel,it cauterizes it so there is no blood,will still have sore ankles....but you can make it so blunt he won't even leave a dent if he gets ya
I've been spurred between my eyes and in the corner of my eye.......I don't take chances anymore
I have Sumatras with 3 and 4 spurs each leg,I file them down so they're not sharp
Wow, that's bad if they go for your face. So far he's only gone for my legs and feet, or my hands if I'm reaching into his pen. But it's not worth a chance of losing an eye. I'm going to have to do something about him now for sure.
Even before his spurs grew so long and sharp, I was totally surprised at how *hard* they hit you when they flog you. Feels like being hit on the hands hard with a stick. It's amazing how much power they can pack behind them when they jump forward. Especially for their tiny size.
For me it was certainly a learning experience, finding out such a cute little fellow could inflict so much damage when you least expect it. Looks can certainly be deceptive.