Caponizing

[LindaB220]

What's the lastest?

 

[FishaRneKed]

 

[LindaB220]

Finally hatched some roosters so in about 6 weeks we give it a try.

 

[LindaB220]

Finally hatched some roosters so in about 6 weeks we give it a try.

Got my babies outside in the shade. 90 degrees. I'm not putting heat out in the daytime. ha

 

[BCMaraniac]

Got my babies outside in the shade. 90 degrees. I'm not putting heat out in the daytime. ha

Sounds like the good Lord has provided the heat lamp!

 

[LindaB220]

Sounds like the good Lord has provided the heat lamp!

 

[ellend]

Flyboy718- No you do not need to caponize CX birds, they are processed before maturity starts and are already big birds.

Punk-a-doodle- I cannot fathom why you would add to the stress levels trying to sedate an animal that small. Dosing would be too critical, and I suspect you would lose many more birds in the process.

Minniechickmama- Stay your course, it is a good method. Remember this will also eliminate much fighting amongst the teenagers, reduce noise, and again I repeat taste delicious.

j

Inhalant anesthetics like isoflurane are not stressful. Worked great. Problem is finding a vet who will anesthetize for you, and at a reasonable price.

 

[ellend]

I finally tried my hand at caponizing recently and did my third batch today. I did lose a lot at first, but now i am getting faster and didnt lose any today. I basically bought 25 male large breed chicks to learn with. I got the basic caponizing kit but found the retractors horrible in it, and bought a high quality retractor off he internet and it made all the difference. I dont even use the scoop in it either. I use the pointy end to break through the connective tissue around the intestines and then around te testicles, and pulled the testicles out with the forceps. I also had a headlamp for light. That helped a lot.

Not a fun job, but i sure wont hate it as bad now when i see all the combs developing on the new chicks and learning that they are male!

A headlamp is almost essential if you don't have an anesthetized bird and surgical lights. Old-timers HAD to make due without headlamps, but I bet there would have been fewer losses!

 

[ellend]

I just had a young man stop tonight to ask about chickens and we got to talking about the capons. He asked why and I explained all the reasons I saw fit to try it. Now, he asked if he can come over and learn how to do it.

Maybe I will have to offer a class once I get proficient.

Who'd have thunk it? LOL

I don't think this is anything that should have fallen by the wayside, it is a shame that so many cockerels go to waste when they could be raised as capons and make good eating.

As for the spring fever, if you will. I am tired of bloodied up cockerels and all the girls on edge all of the time and the over-mating of the hens. It isn't just about the meat, it is about maintaining control and making use of what I got.

I have got an air bubble on the cockerel out here I did. I am debating if I should let the air out or just leave it? It will go down on its own, won't it?

To AVOID air bubbles: Put traction (pull) on the skin, moving it to one side or another, while you make your cut. Now the skin incision and the muscle incision are in two different places when you release the skin. Air you let into the cavity while working will be pushed out and absorbed, and since the skin incision is no longer on top of the muscle incision, no more will get IN.

 

[ellend]

E-bay tool possibilities:

Baby Weitlander retractor.
Preemie chest retactor
Heiss retractor
Mastoid retractor
Stone forceps (gallbladder)
Phipps forceps

I haven't looked, but check under "Surgical tools"

Make sure the "blades" of the retractor aren't too deep / long. You want shallow "hook" parts, or the retractor will stick out from the bird's body too much, and be in the way of your tools. That incision is small and VERY shallow. I think weitlanders and mastoids are too deep, myself.

And those LONG "handled" cotton swabs came in handy for snagging the already separated testes when the slippery little buggers fell back into the abdominal cavity, and kept slipping out of my forceps! (Bantam silkie.)