Capons

[Bossroo]

Since every animal's health and welfare is very important to the farm family's welfare, sometimes the old fashioned methods work the best. I used to band the lambs' testes and tails as well as the surgery method well into the thausands and quite a few bull calves to boot. I prefer the surgery method as there is less stress and fewer infections since I used iodine to sterilise the insisions. Also, I got mountain oysters as a side benefit. With the band method a percentage will get infections or fly strike (maggots)... not pretty.

 

[cluckychick]

Not trying to hijack your thread but I have a question.....If you hatch out chicks and say get 8 or 9 roos couldn't you at say 10 weeks stick them in a grow out pen and feed them grower feed or another high protein feed to add weight for a couple weeks and then process them?

How will this affect the meat, will it be crock pot chicken or will I beable to BBQ it on the grill?

At what age do you process the dual purpose chickens?

 

[Brunty_Farms]

If they are capons you can eat them at any age. They don't get the testosterone like normal dual purpose breeds. I've ate two year old capons and you can't tell the difference.

What is really good are caponed cornish crosses. They are amazing. You can raise them till about 14-16 weeks and you get small turkeys that taste like a 6 week old fryer.

 

[wisdom_seeker]

I think I might want to try this also.

I'm thinking that I will try it on a dead bird 1st.

 

[Promiselandfarm]

iajewel, Love your picture ! How do you get your capons to hatch out eggs? I think those who live on a farm and use their animals understand what you are saying. I know that when a horse is gelded there are a good many complications that can go on and we at least on our farm can only have so many true boys. Every animals is different as individuals their body structure may be the same but their make up or being is different. That is why some get sick and some do not. I think it is great that you can do this with such success. Really would love to hear more about your capons as hatchers

 

[iajewel]

Capons become more maturnal. They just naturally want to be a mommy.. they are more broody as in caring for the brood.. the chicks rather then hatching the eggs. Just like hens, not all breeds do this as well. Sometimes it hit and miss. The barred rock is the all time.. old time favorite for capons and for thier broody nature once caponized.
When I start up the bator this year, you can bet I will have some barred rocks in it.

 

[iajewel]

Quote:
That is one suggestion I have never heard.. but a darn good one.. Fine thinking there..
smiles

 

[iajewel]

Quote:
What is a capon cornish cross? Capon is a neutered male of any breed? how do you cross them?

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Cornish x Rocks (aka broiler) are also caponed at 10-14 days of age.

 

[dancingbear]

Lajewel, at what age do you caponize dual purpose birds?