Caponizing

[eggcetra_farms]

Not sure if this is a good spot to post this, but as caponizing is used to improve the quality of meat... Anyway, I was curious if anyone knows if caponizing will stop or cut back the amount of crowing a rooster does. I know it is supposed to make them less aggressive. Any idea?

 

[MayberrySaint]

I believe that removing the testes after the rooster reaches adulthood will lessen crowing but not eliminate it completely. It is a learned behavior just as mating...in most domestic animals, castration after puberty does lessen male characteristics but does not eliminate them completely.
If done before puberty, it would definitely eliminate crowing and mating behaviors.

 

[Slim]

Caponizing will not stop a rooster from crowing, regardless of when it's done. He will crow less, but he will still crow.

-
Slim

 

[eggcetra_farms]

Thanks for the replies!

 

[feathersnmore]

how safe is it tho??? Has anyone here done it?

 

[Slim]

I have not yet, but I plan to next spring. A lot of folks seem interested in it lately. If there is enough interest I may video record the whole thing and/or post a step by step with detailed color glossy photographs.

Anyone interested?

-
Slim

 

[eggcetra_farms]

That sounds interesting. The only photos I found were here http://www.umaine.edu/umcecumberland/caponizing_illustrated.htm and they're not that great. I'd be afraid to try it out myself. What do you give them for pain? Are they sedated?

 

[Slim]

No sedation, apparenty it's not very painfull. I'd imagine the most painfull part (for the chicken) would be removing the feathers at the incision point.

You dont even have to stitch him back up, tho I might use a butterfly bandage for my peace of mind.

McMurray's sells a caponizing kit complete with video, I'm leaning towards going that route.

 

[eggcetra_farms]

Yes, when I read that you don't even have to stitch them up I thought that was crazy! Wouldn't that just be asking for infection? I had no idea MM sold a kit. Very, very interesting.

 

[eggcetra_farms]

Oh, by the way, my husband said he would think to give them a little whiskey LOL!