GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[Kassaundra]

The same lady that taught McGuyver also taught me and she could do it on most birds. She had a cornish (regular not a cross) that she had to cut both sides, just couldn't reach or find the second one. There is a second membrane, she uses a rounded forcep w/ grabby teeth edges to open the second membrane. The next time we get together (in the next few weeks or so) I am going to take pics of her tools and what she uses them for.

 

[coyotesmommy]

Wow this is not as easy as it looks..... no matter how much I read and watch the video or study the pictures, and the anatomy..... I tried a processed chicken this morning I bought from the store, and I think I killed it again. Poor thing, I stabbed and cut that thing all over still don't think I found the right spot. I really want to keep my favorite rooster, but with my skills I just don't think it will happen and he is running out of time You all were correct about the the rib spreader that come in the kit, I couldn't get those to stay inside a processed chicken much less a live chicken. Yikes

 

[MacGuyver]

The same lady that taught McGuyver also taught me and she could do it on most birds. She had a cornish (regular not a cross) that she had to cut both sides, just couldn't reach or find the second one. There is a second membrane, she uses a rounded forcep w/ grabby teeth edges to open the second membrane. The next time we get together (in the next few weeks or so) I am going to take pics of her tools and what she uses them for.

When and where is this happening? I wouldn't mind a second lesson myself if I could wrangle an invite to horn in. PM me.

 

[McButterpants]

I'm doing mine in SC. I did some more last weekend at a friends farm. He like I had read the procedure backwards and forwards, but had not performed it, seen it done and couldn't find anyone willing to show him. His experience mirrored mine in that we both seemed to be able to found people "who knew someone" that could and would show us how, but they never actually materialized.

Judging from the responses to this thread as well as the number of threads in the archives there is obviously great interest out there. I finally took the plunge and have been having great results, but still a few questions mentioned before.

Some things I did learn - while I didn't have much trouble locating the correct spot for the incision, my friend did. It is not a question of unfamiliarity either - he raises chickens for both eggs and meat, and processes his own birds and has been doing so for years.

I don't think this is an intuitive process for most people. In finding the correct incision site, I found that applying pressure with the tip of my thumb just above (towards the middle of the bird) the thickest part of the thigh allowed me to feel the abdominal cavity under the rib cage. From there it was a simple matter of "counting up". The lower rib on some of the breeds and birds we did was deeper than the upper ribs and required a little pressure to feel. This is where my friend kept missing.

The other mistake I noticed was too little force exerted in making the cut. We were using surgical scalpels (which I highly recommend) - there are or at least appear to be 2 separate layers of muscle fiber between the skin and the actual abdominal cavity as well as a membrane. I myself was very nervous at first about slicing through into internal organs when making the cut. This simply didn't happen, there is ample space between the organs (on a bird with food withheld) and the skin, subcutaneous muscles and membrane. I bird did get loose during the day and was confused with another that had been eating. The intestine was swollen throughout the cavity in this bird - I could not proceed so we sutured and returned that one to the other flock (where he is alive and well).

I will post pics or video of the next day doing this, I hope this helps.

 

[Kassaundra]

Wow this is not as easy as it looks..... no matter how much I read and watch the video or study the pictures, and the anatomy..... I tried a processed chicken this morning I bought from the store, and I think I killed it again. Poor thing, I stabbed and cut that thing all over still don't think I found the right spot. I really want to keep my favorite rooster, but with my skills I just don't think it will happen and he is running out of time You all were correct about the the rib spreader that come in the kit, I couldn't get those to stay inside a processed chicken much less a live chicken. Yikes

Those other spreaders work very well the weil..... 4.0 or 4.5 blunt. Sorry don't remember how to spell it. Your right it does take some practice to get good at it. Is there no one in your area that has any experience that can help you????

Could you get some young males to do before you do your pet boy? Like some from craigslist or something that people are needing to get rid of, but aren't to old.

 

[Kassaundra]

When and where is this happening? I wouldn't mind a second lesson myself if I could wrangle an invite to horn in. PM me.

Not sure where or when, we haven't got that far in the plan. She is hatching some NN's from Joe for me they have about 10ish days to go, I think we were planning on multitasking, delivering chickie doos (or picking them up) and having a caponizing session. When the plans are a little more solid one of us will pm you.

 

[Kassaundra]

I'm doing mine in SC. I did some more last weekend at a friends farm. He like I had read the procedure backwards and forwards, but had not performed it, seen it done and couldn't find anyone willing to show him. His experience mirrored mine in that we both seemed to be able to found people "who knew someone" that could and would show us how, but they never actually materialized.

Judging from the responses to this thread as well as the number of threads in the archives there is obviously great interest out there. I finally took the plunge and have been having great results, but still a few questions mentioned before.

Some things I did learn - while I didn't have much trouble locating the correct spot for the incision, my friend did. It is not a question of unfamiliarity either - he raises chickens for both eggs and meat, and processes his own birds and has been doing so for years.

I don't think this is an intuitive process for most people. In finding the correct incision site, I found that applying pressure with the tip of my thumb just above (towards the middle of the bird) the thickest part of the thigh allowed me to feel the abdominal cavity under the rib cage. From there it was a simple matter of "counting up". The lower rib on some of the breeds and birds we did was deeper than the upper ribs and required a little pressure to feel. This is where my friend kept missing.

The other mistake I noticed was too little force exerted in making the cut. We were using surgical scalpels (which I highly recommend) - there are or at least appear to be 2 separate layers of muscle fiber between the skin and the actual abdominal cavity as well as a membrane. I myself was very nervous at first about slicing through into internal organs when making the cut. This simply didn't happen, there is ample space between the organs (on a bird with food withheld) and the skin, subcutaneous muscles and membrane. I bird did get loose during the day and was confused with another that had been eating. The intestine was swollen throughout the cavity in this bird - I could not proceed so we sutured and returned that one to the other flock (where he is alive and well).

I will post pics or video of the next day doing this, I hope this helps.

Sounds great.

 

[MacGuyver]

Not sure where or when, we haven't got that far in the plan. She is hatching some NN's from Joe for me they have about 10ish days to go, I think we were planning on multitasking, delivering chickie doos (or picking them up) and having a caponizing session. When the plans are a little more solid one of us will pm you.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

 

[coyotesmommy]

Those other spreaders work very well the weil..... 4.0 or 4.5 blunt. Sorry don't remember how to spell it. Your right it does take some practice to get good at it. Is there no one in your area that has any experience that can help you????

Could you get some young males to do before you do your pet boy? Like some from craigslist or something that people are needing to get rid of, but aren't to old.

I have 5 rooster in all, so I will have some practice before I get to Big Red, but you never want one to die, but it is inevitable I know. Last night I picked each roo up and placed them in my lap to feel the ribs and that was much easier than the big fat roaster I got from the store. I removed most of the feathers from the left side they do come out easy, when the boys got uppity I just cupped my hand over their eyes and head and they settled right down. Studying them made me feel more comfortable and took the nerves away which made them more at ease as well.
Last night I took the food up around 7 pm, then this morning I sequestered all of the boys put them upstairs in a large dog crate with no food or water and will get up nice and early in the morning and start the process. That way it is no food for 36 hours and no water for 24. Does that sound right? Keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer for the boys.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have 5 rooster in all, so I will have some practice before I get to Big Red, but you never want one to die, but it is inevitable I know. Last night I picked each roo up and placed them in my lap to feel the ribs and that was much easier than the big fat roaster I got from the store. I removed most of the feathers from the left side they do come out easy, when the boys got uppity I just cupped my hand over their eyes and head and they settled right down. Studying them made me feel more comfortable and took the nerves away which made them more at ease as well.
Last night I took the food up around 7 pm this morning I sequestered all of the boys put them upstairs in a large dog crate with no food or water and will get up nice and early in the morning and start the process. Keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer for the boys.

Good luck and keep up posted on how it goes.