Caponizing questions - not for meat bird

[bobbi-j]

Yes. We can't have another roo, and these are our pets. I don't eat any meat, and re-homing would be hard as I would want to be completely sure he'd have a great life - our gang is pretty spoiled. I feel that as more and more people have pet chickens it would be great if there were a solution - I'd go to great lengths to take him to a specialist but I've come to the conclusion that avian vets rarely do this procedure...probably because they don't actually do that many chicken surgeries in the first place. I would never attempt anything like it myself, but as my husband is a top notch surgeon with very many years of surgical experience I'm hoping we can work this out. It's just the pain factor that worries me, but from what I've read chickens don't seem to experience pain in the same way we do.

I would think that with your husband’s experience, it should be less of a risk for your bird

 

[PurpleCArTires]

How often do you lose one? I have been interested in this subject for awhile now, and I have experience with castration, but never in the body cavity. Is it worth it?

I think it's worth it. We are a small homestead and do this for personal supply. I can let the chickens grow longer and harvest only when I need to. It's also alot less fighting amongst the rooster flock. The capons are generally very friendly I have done 35 total in the last year and half. I have had 3 die after the surgery due to shock/ruptured air sac (why electrolytes are so important afterward). And only lost 1 on the actual table due to blood loss.

Since these losses, I am very careful now and if I feel sketchy about the situation (can't get the whole testie, testie is too deep to see clearly, chick seems weak) I don't complete the surgery. I would rather have a slip, than a dead chick. I haven't lost one now in over 8 months (I keep careful records). That being said, I have had 23 successful full Capons in the past year and a half. 8 slips due to my cautionary actions of just halting surgery if things get sketchy.

If you do it, you have to expect failure or loss at first. You have to understand that if things don't go as planned, you may get a slip or dead chick. I do it because finding homes for Roosters is hard, expecially Barn Yard mixes, and by casterating the roos get a chance at a longer life with less drama. They also get alot fattier and stay tender. I don't like eating older roosters and the young ones just don't have enough meat to make it worth it for me. Capons can run free until you need them. I harvested one at 14 months and it had soo much fat and was the best tasting bird I have ever had.

 

[theoldchick]

Caponizing is best done as early as possible. Avian anesthesia has come a long way and I've know several chickens who have done well. Did you know Sears used to sell caponizing kits for the farmer? This is a procedure that use to be performed on the farm when the cockerel was a few days old.

 

[Nicky S]

I'll be honest in saying it doesn't traumatize your bird at all, when it's over all they care about is eating. You HAVE to starve them first. I have had best success with taking food Thursday night, taking water Friday night, and caponize first thing Saturday morning.

The chick gets tied (make sure he is stretched all the way) and may struggle at first, then I like to cover there faces, it seems to calm them. They flinch with the first cut, but once you are in, they don't move much.

If you move quickly and carefully, it's really quick (under 5 minutes for me per bird, including tying them up), and it's over before they know what happened. I am sure your husband will have no problem at all! I have no medical experience and was able to pick it up no problem.

Just be sure you get the whole testie, otherwise he will still try to mate, harass the hens, and possibly fight with the roo.

Also, I have only ever done it to 5-6 week olds, never older.

Separate him when it's done and let him heal a few days (I don't use sutures, the thigh muscle holds it closed). Watch for Wind Puffs (air pockets under the skin). I pop them if they get really big to relieve the pressure.

Also, I learned the hard way that electrolytes are super important afterward to help with shock.

I am doing a few Saturday. If I can, I'll see if I can get some pics of my set up.

PS, I am to the point where I open almost every chick, just to confirm sex. If they are boys, they get the beans removed, girls just get released and go on living their lives. I don't have money for DNA testing every chick and it's helpful me to know as soon as possible what their sex is, expecially Silkies.

PPS, I think everyone uses different techniques and tools, what I do might not work for everyone. I'll see if I can tag a few other folks to see what they have to say.

Many thanks - that's super helpful to know. I'm going to have to be out of the house. My husband's only worry is if Pudding moves during the procedure, but I assume that if they're secured properly this won't be an issue. I'm going to speak to my avian vet next week to see if there's any numbing she can recommend or light sedation, probably more for my peace of mind that anything else. And yes, totally get that DNA testing every chick is an issue if you have lots. We just had 6 we hatched, and I sent all their shells for testing because I wanted to be prepared this time...our first 6 were supposed to be al girls and we got one roo in there, which is how this whole thing started! It's so encouraging that you have such a high success rate - any pics greatly appreciated!

 

[Nicky S]

Caponizing is best done as early as possible. Avian anesthesia has come a long way and I've know several chickens who have done well. Did you know Sears used to sell caponizing kits for the farmer? This is a procedure that use to be performed on the farm when the cockerel was a few days old.

Yes, we found out with our first roo too late to safely do the procedure, that's why I decided to test everyone at hatching this time so I could be prepared. I was surprised though that our avian vet said it was too dangerous at any age. I'm speaking to another specialist next week and I'l see what she says, I think the whole thing is very confusing and I don't get why specialists are so reluctant if regular people with no training are learning relatively quickly. I had no idea Sears used to sell the kits! I feel like it's an issue that really needs to be addressed as more and more people are keeping chickens as pets - imagine if we got to the stage we're at with cats and dogs where it is routine and encouraged...we even had my daughter's rats neutered a few years back and nobody batted an eyelid. Obviously livestock is a different issue due to costs, but my chickens are just like my cat and dogs to me.

 

[aart]

I feel like it's an issue that really needs to be addressed as more and more people are keeping chickens as pets - imagine if we got to the stage we're at with cats and dogs where it is routine and encouraged...we even had my daughter's rats neutered a few years back and nobody batted an eyelid.

Mammals are a different issue than birds,
you don't have to hatch the eggs.

 

[Isadora]

I was surprised though that our avian vet said it was too dangerous at any age.

My thought is that it's actually more of a liability thing. Like another poster said, anesthesia is very tricky with birds and I would think most avian vets would not want to operate on the bird if it was awake. It's easier for them to just not offer the service.

 

[Nicky S]

Mammals are a different issue than birds,
you don't have to hatch the eggs.

True, but our first roo was supposed to be a girl which is how this whole thing started, and I know accidental roosters are a thing that happens a lot. We hatched our own because I'm not sure I'm even comfortable with getting from a hatchery again, and also because our broody was so determined I didn't have the heart to stop her...though I wouldn't have let her hatch them if I'd known that the avian vets were not willing to do the surgery, I made a big wrong assumption there. Also with birds they do carry out way more complicated surgeries and don't seem too worried...anesthesia has advanced a lot, and if the bird is young it is not a complicated surgery to caponize. It would just be nice to have an option for pet birds, and I'm pretty sure 10 years down the line things will be different in general. I'm not bullying anyone into doing it, I just don't really get it.

 

[Nicky S]

My thought is that it's actually more of a liability thing. Like another poster said, anesthesia is very tricky with birds and I would think most avian vets would not want to operate on the bird if it was awake. It's easier for them to just not offer the service.

I agree with you there. Probably also financial - how many people would be willing/able to pay...a visit with x-rays for one of my girls just set me back $650, and no answers either. That said, they were willing to do a vasectomy on my roo (which we didn't do) even though they'd never done one before.

 

[PurpleCArTires]

I agree with you there. Probably also financial - how many people would be willing/able to pay...a visit with x-rays for one of my girls just set me back $650, and no answers either. That said, they were willing to do a vasectomy on my roo (which we didn't do) even though they'd never done one before.

Financial I think plays a big part. We have some pet chickens that will never become dinner, they are pampered and spoiled, if they get sick, we do what we can for them, but I wouldn't take them to a vet. Unfortunately for us, they are still farm animals, no matter how much we love them, I cant bring myself to spend $500 on a chicken. Plus, we have no avian vets nearby, so I am looking at an hour plus drive each way to the closest one.