GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[Poco Pollo]

Is that Robin's meany?

Yes. We are hoping this is now Robin's nicey : )

 

[chrissyr]

I'm not able to place an order for tools until the end of September.  The first school break of more than a couple days that isn't already marked for family events is spring break, the week of March 16th.  I've marked that week as the tentative week for the next capon clinic.  It's not set in stone.  I have too many variables knocking heads right now to know if this time will actually be "time off" for me.  If there was a practical way to come to you for a clinic, I'd rejoice at the opportunity to take a Friday off.  I'm not giving up.  We'll work something out.  I just need to find a way to add more hours to each day.

you are awesome for doing a clinic! I'm in California and would love a clinic close by. When life gets a little less hectic I'll try it myself. Where would you recommend I buy the best tool set? I've seen a few.

 

[BCMaraniac]

I poulardized 5 more pullets today without difficulty. They are 13 weeks old.

Here is a picture of one of the oviducts. It is threaded onto one side of a pair of very small recessed ear forceps. The tips of them are approximately 1.5 mm in width:






I thought this might give you all an idea of the size of the oviduct at this age. It truly is just a bit larger than a broom straw, but even at this age it has stretch in it, so the end of the forcep slid easily into it once I found the opening.

 

[Sylviaanne]

I don't think I will be doing any hens, just cockerels and they are getting older. By the time I can caponize them, they are going to be roosters. LOL Good thing I am planning on getting the kit to do both adults and youngsters. LOL

 

[Free2BMe2798]

I have a question about comb shrinkage. This is a pic on my Blue Splash Marans that I caponized 2 months ago. His comb and wattles shrunk down this far within the first 2wks then no more:

My records from that day say I removed both testes intact and he has stopped all of the rooish behavior he had started displaying like crowing and posturing. He even seems to have dropped way down in the pecking order. So I'm asking if you guys who have more experience with capons think his combs and wattles will completely disappear over time or stay as is?

 

[-buddy-]

hello all. finally moved out to the country and bought 5 english orpington hens and 1 rooster for eggs and meat (eventually) all chicks. now about 6 weeks old. then I bought 7 silver laced wyandottes about 3 months old for $2 each to raise for meat about a month ago. then I got 2 free mixed breed roosters about 5 months old to eat soon.
then I learned about caponizing about a week ago. really seems like the perfect solution for sustainable chicken raising. have been reading over this thread and watching videos and want to do these wyandottes before they get any older. they must be right at 4 months I think. you guys sold me on the Chinese tools. will pm poco to get in on this, but can't wait for Chinese tools for these guys. so I made a retractor/rib spreader out of a coat hanger and have the two big roosters and my 3 biggest wyandotte roosters fasting since this morning. plan to attempt caponization tomorrow afternoon. the big roos for practice (they are ready to butcher anyway) and the wyandottes (I hope I am not too late) to make real capons and grow them out. if the procedure is successful I will do the other 4 next. have butchered a number of chickens and have actually removed sebaceous cysts from the scalps of two friends. I feel confident (i hope not too confident) and am eager to see if my homemade rib spreader will be effective. will try to take pictures and let you know how it goes.

 

[ronott1]

hello all. finally moved out to the country and bought 5 english orpington hens and 1 rooster for eggs and meat (eventually) all chicks. now about 6 weeks old. then I bought 7 silver laced wyandottes about 3 months old for $2 each to raise for meat about a month ago. then I got 2 free mixed breed roosters about 5 months old to eat soon.
then I learned about caponizing about a week ago. really seems like the perfect solution for sustainable chicken raising. have been reading over this thread and watching videos and want to do these wyandottes before they get any older. they must be right at 4 months I think. you guys sold me on the Chinese tools. will pm poco to get in on this, but can't wait for Chinese tools for these guys. so I made a retractor/rib spreader out of a coat hanger and have the two big roosters and my 3 biggest wyandotte roosters fasting since this morning. plan to attempt caponization tomorrow afternoon. the big roos for practice (they are ready to butcher anyway) and the wyandottes (I hope I am not too late) to make real capons and grow them out. if the procedure is successful I will do the other 4 next. have butchered a number of chickens and have actually removed sebaceous cysts from the scalps of two friends. I feel confident (i hope not too confident) and am eager to see if my homemade rib spreader will be effective. will try to take pictures and let you know how it goes.

Oregon has a great State thread. Have you posted there yet?

I am looking forward to seeing your photos and progress canonizing.

 

[Kassaundra]

hello all. finally moved out to the country and bought 5 english orpington hens and 1 rooster for eggs and meat (eventually) all chicks. now about 6 weeks old. then I bought 7 silver laced wyandottes about 3 months old for $2 each to raise for meat about a month ago. then I got 2 free mixed breed roosters about 5 months old to eat soon.
then I learned about caponizing about a week ago. really seems like the perfect solution for sustainable chicken raising. have been reading over this thread and watching videos and want to do these wyandottes before they get any older. they must be right at 4 months I think. you guys sold me on the Chinese tools. will pm poco to get in on this, but can't wait for Chinese tools for these guys. so I made a retractor/rib spreader out of a coat hanger and have the two big roosters and my 3 biggest wyandotte roosters fasting since this morning. plan to attempt caponization tomorrow afternoon. the big roos for practice (they are ready to butcher anyway) and the wyandottes (I hope I am not too late) to make real capons and grow them out. if the procedure is successful I will do the other 4 next. have butchered a number of chickens and have actually removed sebaceous cysts from the scalps of two friends. I feel confident (i hope not too confident) and am eager to see if my homemade rib spreader will be effective. will try to take pictures and let you know how it goes.

I wish you success w/ your project. Looking forward to the pictures and report. Trying to imagine how a working retractor could be made from a hanger.

 

[-buddy-]

thanks for the encouragement. I am so excited about this. I am getting everything ready. invited a friend over for a "workshop."
no ronott haven't explored the sight yet. just know about this thread that I have been reading for many days. I don't know about forums really. and the browser on my phone seems like it isn't showing me all my posting options.

 

[LindaB220]

thanks for the encouragement. I am so excited about this. I am getting everything ready. invited a friend over for a "workshop."
no ronott haven't explored the sight yet. just know about this thread that I have been reading for many days. I don't know about forums really. and the browser on my phone seems like it isn't showing me all my posting options.

Look on page 109 for the newest version of caponizing using the chinese tools. What are you using? Tweezers? I heard that you can get a hold of the teste and twist it slowly around, clipping edges with sharp scissors keeping the membranes with the teste. Good luck. I have the tools but I haven't tried on a live bird yet.