BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[hellbender]

Like the bread and milk the french traditionally give to tenderize the meat?

I use basically buttermilk (from goats) and coarse ground corn meal but I also add some oatmeal with the milk as well as left-over corn bread or even other breads.

 

[collie1470]

I use basically buttermilk (from goats) and coarse ground corn meal but I also add some oatmeal with the milk as well as left-over corn bread or even other breads.  

oooooh yummy lol

 

[dfr1973]

How does this affect their activity level? I free range and wonder if they will still get out there after this is done.
Also, is there any after care or isolation required or can they just go back to the flock?

When caponized, the bird has discovered it has only one true purpose in life: to eat and grow. Sometimes you will get one that learns the joys of raising chicks ... that is more likely to be a submissive type who gets bullied even by other capons, IME.

 

[hellbender]

When caponized, the bird has discovered it has only one true purpose in life: to eat and grow. Sometimes you will get one that learns the joys of raising chicks ... that is more likely to be a submissive type who gets bullied even by other capons, IME.

Yep.


EDIT: My son tells me I should mention the fact that we also feed the birds warm beer. Not a whole lot but they really like it. Essentially we make 'home brew' just for them as none of us can stand it. I don't know if it helps, hurts or neither but it's cheap and they really swill it down.

EDIT: #2...My son now tells me that making the home brew actually costs more than even buying an off brand when all is considered but he enjoys messin' with the brew and they always drink/eat it.

 

[dfr1973]

but so far I' haven't been happy enough with the size and quality of the meat to give him one. I'm now hoping that caponizing these two Dorkings will result in some beautiful birds for him to smoke for our holiday party at our shop.

Here is a pic that at least shows the size difference - the in focus young cockerel is about the same age Cappy was when I caponized him back in April. The blur is Cappy this morning, tossing his head just as I snapped the pic.

Even when caponizing isn't exactly successful, it still isn't exactly a failure.

 

[DesertChic]

Yep.


EDIT: My son tells me I should mention the fact that we also feed the birds warm beer. Not a whole lot but they really like it. Essentially we make 'home brew' just for them as none of us can stand it. I don't know if it helps, hurts or neither but it's cheap and they really swill it down.

EDIT: #2...My son now tells me that making the home brew actually costs more than even buying an off brand when all is considered but he enjoys messin' with the brew and they always drink/eat it.

I've heard of marinating the meat in beer, and even making beer can chicken.....but I never thought to feed them beer. Are chickens happy drunks?

 

[DesertChic]

When caponized, the bird has discovered it has only one true purpose in life: to eat and grow. Sometimes you will get one that learns the joys of raising chicks ... that is more likely to be a submissive type who gets bullied even by other capons, IME.

I told/warned my husband last night that I will be practicing the caponizing procedure this weekend so I can start making capons to grow out to eat. He look rather frightened and started mumbling something about sleeping with one eye open or maybe out on the couch.

 

[hellbender]

I told/warned my husband last night that I will be practicing the caponizing procedure this weekend so I can start making capons to grow out to eat. He look rather frightened and started mumbling something about sleeping with one eye open or maybe out on the couch.

As for the drunken capons, I have yet to see one of them throw a punch. They seem happy enough, not knowing their ultimate fate.

 

[dfr1973]

I've heard of marinating the meat in beer, and even making beer can chicken.....but I never thought to feed them beer. Are chickens happy drunks?

As for the drunken capons, I have yet to see one of them throw a punch. They seem happy enough, not knowing their ultimate fate.

I have heard the bit about getting a capon drunk before putting chicks in with it, then when it wakes up in the morning (hung over?) it looks around at the chicks and thinks, "Look at this! I am a MOMMA!" I haven't tried that ... hubby does not sound inclined to share his booze with even capons. Basically, a picked-on capon who suddenly finds himself surrounded by smaller chicks who don't bully him, and cuddle up in the evening for warmth, tends to like his new status. Puffy even had Silkie chicks cuddling under his wings when they were small enough - that was a cute sight I could never get a pic of ... little fuzzy crested splash Silkie heads peeking out from under Puffy's gold and black wings. Puffy is showing as a slip as well ... there go my two chick-nannies.

 

[DesertChic]

I've noticed the use of sutures to close up the incision made for caponizing. Can glue be used instead? When I cut open my arm, the glue worked beautifully and quickly.