Anybody on here ever heard of Caponizing ?

[the1much]

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Actually anesthetic cream *is* often used for circumcisions these days, fwiw.

Anesthesia (local or general) is not infrequently used when gelding horses. I don't *think* it is normally used with other livestock but am not positive.

However, one big difference: that is just a superficial operation -- tiny slit in the skin and snip snip and it's done. (Actually with some livestock, they don't even cut the skin, just use a special tool to crush the spermatic cord from outside).

Whereas caponizing a rooster is major abdominal surgery. Due to the difference in where bird testes vs mammal testes are stored.


Pat

i helped with a young bull once,, didnt know what i was helping with,, just knew i had to hold the rope to his head,,,, vet came into barn,, had what looked like bolt cutters ( think it was 1 of those "crusher thingy's ) reach under the bull from behind,, made a grunt, squeezed,, and me and the bull fell to our knees

i still have nightmares

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Had my mini stallion "done" this last spring. He was put out and there were two dogs that got treats that day on the vets lawn.

 

[Carolina Chicken Man]

Caponizing is not very common any more, mainly because of the cornish x's fast growth rate, and the fact that fewer people keep backyard flocks anymore. Well let me correct that statement, there are fewer family farms that depend on their chickens for food.

Most of the people on this site are "hobbyists", and don't know much about how things are done on the farm. I agree, caponizing is different because of the location of the testicles, and the fact that you have to open the body cavity. And let me add, that I could not do it myself. But my wife, who has a degree in Animal Science has castrated over 10,000 pigs (she worked at a university swine education unit) could probably do it with some practice. But, I don't think it is any more painful than how they do pigs.

Next time you order sexed female chicks from the hatchery, stop and think about what the hatchery does with all those little cockerals that nobody wants. Someone actually posted a link to a You tube video, that show's what they do to them.

In my opinion, caponizing would be a much better option given a 5 in 100 mortality rate that someone previously posted.

 

[Carolina Chicken Man]

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Why in the world would you need to spay a hen???

 

[redhen]

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Why in the world would you need to spay a hen???

maybe they were internal layers...or they were egg bound, and prolapsed....thats why you would spay a hen...

 

[Barn Maid Ann]

Okay, I talked to my vet today.
He had never even heard of any rooster being neutered, let alone done it himself. So he told me he would see what he could find out about it.
From what his research found, he said with imature birds, it isn't too dangerous as the testes are very small. But after sexual maturity, the testes have grown and they lie against the renal artery (I think thats what he said). So it is very difficult to get in there and safely remove the testicles at that point. He found a vet in CA who is somewhat of an expert and his advice is to NOT castrate (caponize) a mature rooster. Success rate is very poor.

So, my DH will not be happy to hear that. Back to the behavior modification plan.....

There is a bird specialist here in CT. Dr Giddings. I used to drive over an hour to get my parrots to him (just a few times, for sexing and non-critical care). I may give his office a call just to see what he has to say.

 

[Carolina Chicken Man]

Quote:
Why in the world would you need to spay a hen???

maybe they were internal layers...or they were egg bound, and prolapsed....thats why you would spay a hen...

It seems to me that's when you would cull a hen. But, I guess I'm too practical.

My aunt once paid 700 dollars for surgery on her pet rabbit. He died of old age about a year later. I would not spend 700 dollars on a rabbit myself, but my aunt (god rest her soul) was a softie for animals. She carried stray cats that showed up at her house to the vet to get them spayed.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I don't think caponizing young cockerels is major abdominal surgery, I think it can be done quickly, easily, & simply *IF* you have the expertise. That's why I think it would be good to first practice on the birds you've already dispatched. The testes are up beside their backbone, between the ribs/lungs and the kidneys. So the risk is in cutting in the wrong place, and injuring one of those organs instead of getting the testes.

I'd like to know if there were some sort of numbing/anesthetic you could first apply to the site, don't know if that's practical with all the bird's feathers in the way. I don't know if it's possible or practical to anesthetize a chicken. I think the best thing is to be quick & accurate.

Personally, I wouldn't spend the $$$ just to neuter a rooster to keep as a pet, to keep it from crowing or acting aggressive. If I couldn't keep crowing roosters I'd just pick really pretty hens instead. If I had an aggressive rooster, I'd dispatch him and get a more mannerly one. There are many many gentleman roosters available, I wouldn't waste too much time dealing with an aggressive one.

 

[greyfields]

Caponization simply isn't worth the time and effort as a modern broiler will grow larger, more quickly and for less feed. When you consider caponization does put the animal's life in peril, then it's entirely an unsatisfactory approach.

If you are a dedicated heavy breed breeder, and are looking for an avenue to deal with your extraneous cockrels, then (and only then) is caponization a route forward. But, for the time and effort, I'd just start roos to about 4 weeks then sell them along at auctin if you can. Use the proceeds to buy broiler chicks.

 

[greyfields]

One more thing, search the Meat Chicken boards as this gets brought up pretty regularly there.