GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[Neuport]

• Kassaundra - thanks for the feedback. Good to know that it's normal to have color variations within one bird.
• My daughter went into this understanding that laying hens have a limited productive life and that cockerels would end up on the table sooner than later. Part of the reason we wanted to raise chickens is to get our city kids more connected to the realities of life. We provide well for the chickens and they are tame but they have a purpose beyond being pets.

I had seen that retractor but dismissed it because it didn't appear to be adjustable for bird size. It looked like it only locked when opened all the way. Thanks for the recommendation, I'll take another look. I also plan to add some tabs to the one I have to prevent the wound margins from slipping over the top which is what it tended to do if it wasn't placed very carefully.

 

[Kassaundra]

• Kassaundra - thanks for the feedback. Good to know that it's normal to have color variations within one bird.
• My daughter went into this understanding that laying hens have a limited productive life and that cockerels would end up on the table sooner than later. Part of the reason we wanted to raise chickens is to get our city kids more connected to the realities of life. We provide well for the chickens and they are tame but they have a purpose beyond being pets.

I had seen that retractor but dismissed it because it didn't appear to be adjustable for bird size. It looked like it only locked when opened all the way. Thanks for the recommendation, I'll take another look. I also plan to add some tabs to the one I have to prevent the wound margins from slipping over the top which is what it tended to do if it wasn't placed very carefully.

Yes it only locks when fully opened. There are two sizes, they are made specifically for caponizing birds by actual caponizers. That was my issue w/ your retractor, if not placed very carefully and even sometimes when it was, it would slip. I also didn't like the sharp points.

I guess I misunderstood the purpose, or read into your post. We have both on this thread those who caponize for better meat and those who do it for better pets. Either way all is good here.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Awesome job @Neuport

I second Kass on the rib spreader. This is the tool I use as well, recomended by the same teacher.

 

[LindaB220]

• Kassaundra - thanks for the feedback. Good to know that it's normal to have color variations within one bird.
• My daughter went into this understanding that laying hens have a limited productive life and that cockerels would end up on the table sooner than later. Part of the reason we wanted to raise chickens is to get our city kids more connected to the realities of life. We provide well for the chickens and they are tame but they have a purpose beyond being pets.

I had seen that retractor but dismissed it because it didn't appear to be adjustable for bird size. It looked like it only locked when opened all the way. Thanks for the recommendation, I'll take another look. I also plan to add some tabs to the one I have to prevent the wound margins from slipping over the top which is what it tended to do if it wasn't placed very carefully.

Your loop is outstanding.

 

[jbkirk]

I thought I would share my experience.

We started raising chickens this spring at my 9 y/o daughter's request.

We bought 2-3 each of 4 different varieties. I suspected one was a cockerel and in my reading came across caponization. It intrigued me since I worked on a ranch when I was younger and have been developing medical devices for nearly 30 years. I read the first thread and immediately thought of a better way (a tissue snare which is common in my work), drew up sketches and ordered materials for a prototype. I then read several of the old books on the subject and this thread and realized it had already been done several times. My only contribution was making it the right size, with proper medical device materials for function and durability, and keeping the cost relatively low.

Saturday, little Nacho (now named Nada) went under the knife and this is what we extracted.



The black one came from the left side and the yellow from the right. The first incision was on the left side and a little low and too far posterior. After opening the cavity, I immediately saw the right yellow testicle. When I realized I was seeing the other side I shifted my position and it slipped out of view. It took me a minute to find the left one. I was looking for yellow. Eventually I realized that it was right in front of me but black. I was worried it was something else; gall bladder, kidney, I didn't know. Eventually I decided it had to be it and it came out easily. I turned the bird over and did the other side much more quickly. To be sure of the black one, I dissected both under the microscope. They were identical except for color. I knew the literature had said they could be yellow, white, gray, black, etc. But I expected it would vary by bird/breed not by side of the same bird! Has anyone else experienced this?



Here is the instrument set I put together. The bottom row is the essentials. I use a scalpel with a #15 blade (not shown) because of their small size and sharp point. The spreader needs some work. I modified it a little before the surgery and plan to do some more before the next surgery. The pick worked fine for tearing the membrane. The snare was perfect. It is made of telescoping stainless steel tubing. The balls are fixed to the tubes and facilitate easy gripping and pulling the inner tube to collapse the loop. The loop is nitinol wire. I used the superelastic form which means that it can be deformed many times and always snaps back to it's original shape.

The top row are nice to have. The forceps are there as a general purpose instrument and are used along with the needle driver for suturing if needed. I had not planned to do any suturing but I had a 3-0 silk suture nearby just in case. I was glad I did. Since my first incision was misplaced a bit and both it and the second incision ended up larger than they should have been I ended up suturing the skin on both sides. The scissors were used for cutting suture and these particular ones are designed for suture removal later if needed. I actually used a set of Mayo scissors that I had and I had several other instruments nearby if I needed them. Afterward, I selected those in the photo as what I consider a good complete set.


Below is a closer picture of my snare with it pulled apart for cleaning. If there is any interest in these, or a complete set of instruments, I would consider building snares and putting together sets for resale at a reasonable price. Also, if anyone has a particular rib spreader that they think is superior for this application, I would be interested in your thoughts since the one I used was only fair. I am also interested in other instruments you think I should have in my set for my use or for a commercial set.


Finally, I also boiled down everything that I read into a single sheet to post on the wall for my reference. If there is interest, I might redraw the figures and make a nice wall chart of it.

So, when are you going to start selling them on ebay?

 

[Neuport]

Thanks guys. It went so smoothly I hope to round up some cockerels from the neighbors to start a little flock of meat birds.

JB - Right now I am playing with the retractor. I am making new jaws for the one I have that I will weld on. I will also see if I can find the one recommended by Kassaundra and Linda to try. If people are really interested in the snare or a complete set I might make a few for the forum to start but that would be a different thread in a more appropriate spot.

I just want to thank everyone who has contributed information on this thread. Between it and the several books and pamphlets on Google Books, I was able to read about it and go straight to surgery without any big problems. The color variation of the tissue was the only surprise I had. We live in an amazing time of information and cooperative effort sharing.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

I just want to thank everyone who has contributed information on this thread. Between it and the several books and pamphlets on Google Books, I was able to read about it and go straight to surgery without any big problems. The color variation of the tissue was the only surprise I had. We live in an amazing time of information and cooperative effort sharing.

Someone earlier mentioned knowing that there had to be 'underground caponizers' out there. That's how I like to think of this thread.

Even in this old fashioned farming area of KS not very many people even know what capons are, and the ones that know how it's done think it's terribly old-fashioned if not down right cruel. I shared a video on FB of the process of commercial hatcheries!!!

 

[MagicChicken]

Thanks guys. It went so smoothly I hope to round up some cockerels from the neighbors to start a little flock of meat birds.

JB - Right now I am playing with the retractor. I am making new jaws for the one I have that I will weld on. I will also see if I can find the one recommended by Kassaundra and Linda to try. If people are really interested in the snare or a complete set I might make a few for the forum to start but that would be a different thread in a more appropriate spot.

I just want to thank everyone who has contributed information on this thread. Between it and the several books and pamphlets on Google Books, I was able to read about it and go straight to surgery without any big problems. The color variation of the tissue was the only surprise I had. We live in an amazing time of information and cooperative effort sharing.

The retractor is the main reason so many folks on this thread have ordered the caponizing tools from China. It would an interesting turn of the economic tables if you could duplicate or improve on the Chinese retractor and sell them here in the US.

 

[Neuport]

I have ordered one of the small Weitlaner retractors from ebay to try as well. I am familiar with the larger versions from many years ago and they look promising. I am still planning new jaws for the little Heiss retractor I have. I'm sure we will find one that works well and is affordable.

 

[jbkirk]

You guys ought to print them using a 3D printer. Ha ha.