Capon Controversy

[dbtcowgirl]

This question is for my own enlightenment. Whenever the subject of caponizing a male bird comes up I always see a lot of negative feelings towards the procedure. I don't have a feeling either way , I eat my extra roos and sleep just fine at night. However is a procedure that is temporarily painful but allows a rooster a potential life as a pet instead of a pot of soup worse than just killing it? From my understanding anesthesia during the proceduresignificantly increases the chance of death so it is probably painful, but temporarily so. We also don't use anesthesia when we clean and doctor wounds or treat bumble foot, I'm sure this is painful as well. I've had a puncture wound flushed and it hurts. My curiosity lies in the negative connotation surrounding a capon and individual thoughts and experience. How many people have first hand experience with a capon and how many have just read about it? Are there any supporters? As I said I have no strong feelings either way, I'm just curious.

 

[dbtcowgirl]

I have caponed in the past it should be done as early as possible to a point .It should be a planned thing where you buy the roosters early in the year and you know they are all roosters capon done at the correct age will not develop rooster traits . They can be used for brooding chicks later in the year as a bonus . Capons grow at a slower rate and eat less than the birds used as meat birds . the flesh is tender and choice eating . It makes good use of chicks that would otherwise be killed after hatching. You see when fall comes you can stock the freezer . There may be conflicting opinions but I think it is a good practice better than buying the terminal meat birds . Does this help?

Thank you, that is really a great reply. I don't currently caponize anything but I'm raising Bielefelders and am considering it due to the auto sexing nature of the breed.
Did you capon your own cockrels? If so did you see any common complications or downfalls to the procedure?

 

[Acre4Me]

I've got fifteen 5 week old males that will be caponized soon. It is a small cut, and done in such a way as to not have an open wound when done. Having weathered many injuries with chickens - it is amazing how fast they heal. We had a chicken split down her entire side, muscle showing all the way down, and it appeared to have been a day or two old (but no fly strike) and she was moving around just fine, eating and being a chicken like she was a whole/healthy girl! Of course, we doctored her as soon as we discovered this injury, and she has healed up completely and FAST! We were frankly amazed. My point in this story is that chickens seem to be pretty resilient to many wounds and the small cut made for caponization and very quick procedure do not lead me to think they suffer at all. Like with any procedure with a chicken, it is good to keep them calm and they naturally calm down in lower light and/or with head covered.

Generally, those opposed are not knowledgeable about the procedure or chickens. Nor have they had to deal with excess cockerels.

 

[dbtcowgirl]

I've got fifteen 5 week old males that will be caponized soon. It is a small cut, and done in such a way as to not have an open wound when done. Having weathered many injuries with chickens - it is amazing how fast they heal. We had a chicken split down her entire side, muscle showing all the way down, and it appeared to have been a day or two old (but no fly strike) and she was moving around just fine, eating and being a chicken like she was a whole/healthy girl! Of course, we doctored her as soon as we discovered this injury, and she has healed up completely and FAST! We were frankly amazed. My point in this story is that chickens seem to be pretty resilient to many wounds and the small cut made for caponization and very quick procedure do not lead me to think they suffer at all. Like with any procedure with a chicken, it is good to keep them calm and they naturally calm down in lower light and/or with head covered.

Generally, those opposed are not knowledgeable about the procedure or chickens. Nor have they had to deal with excess cockerels.

Thank you for your reply. I too am amazed at how tough chickens can be. It is nice to hear from someone experienced. I wish you all the luck with your 15. If you have time or care to I would love an update on how it goes!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I fully support it IF YOU PLAN ON EATING THEM ANYWAYS

Too many people want to do it for pets, but what they don't seem to realize is gets won't do it, not a lot of people just happen to know how to do it correctly, and odds are when you're first learning, you'll lose at least a bird or two.