GRAPHIC PICS of my day learning to caponize

[QueenMisha]

Just out of curiosity, why would you caponize the black one if you wanted to keep him because you wanted to keep his sire but didn't because of temperament? If it is bloodlines then you just kind of messed that up, and I can't see why you would keep the son of a nasty roo for sentimental reasons... Just curious, that seemed strange...

I mostly just caponized him because he was there and I needed some first time test subjects. And he turned out pretty like his dad, but the caponization is keeping him calm, and very sweet with the hens.

Oh, his dad was a handsome rooster, he was a cross of very high-quality Blue Wheaten Ameraucana and a Jersey Giant hen, he was a lot prettier than his son... pitch black with gold over the entire hackle and saddle. I hated his personality, but he was a real looker - I wanted badly to keep him, just as a lawn coop ornament, but he was a very aggressive mater, so no dice.

I didn't actually think daddy Winchester had bred - I run a complete mongrel flock, and he was way down in the pecking order. 90% of the offspring that come out of my big pen are fathered by my 12 lb. Orp, Benedict, so I assumed that this new batch of chicks were all his, maybe with a couple from my Dominique roo. But, whadda ya know, this little guy grows up and there's no way he's Benny's OR Nicci's offspring. No clue who the mom was, maybe my old EE hen, but anyhow, the kid turned out very handsome. Not so handsome as his dad, but all the same, he'll be my new aesthetically-pleasing freeloader. (One of them, anyways...)

 

[Poco Pollo]

Ok. I got my first capon done and he is doing well. Now I have a question....my friend wants her full grown rooster caponized because he is an overzealous breeder. Anybody ever try this and have good results? I have a friend who is a vet and can do this under anesthesia.....

A friend had a rooster anesthetized and spent the better part of a night and day trying to keep the bird alive afterward. Anesthesia, for the purposes of making capons, it not necessary. If the operator is skilled, the bird will experience discomfort (plucking feathers and the initial incision), but he will not succumb to pain during caponizing.

I've caponized older birds, up to two-years-old, but I'm no longer caponizing them as I do eight-week-olds. Because of the stress for the larger bird, I caponize the right side and allow the incision to heal completely (2 weeks). After two weeks, I prep the bird a second time and remove the left testicle. The survival rate is higher this way, and it's a lot less stressful for me as well.

Consider, too, that it may be months after caponization that the roo relaxes his breeding habits. Perhaps it would make more sense to replace the rooster.

 

[Poco Pollo]

Capon Clinic
Sunday, September 13, 2015

Haskell, Oklahoma

Send me a PM if you would like to attend. We have a few seats left. Learn how to turn poultry packing peanuts and those "extra" cockerels into decent table birds. If you're soft hearted, then keep those hennish capons for bug patrol, or awesome yard art. We'll have some white leghorns to caponize, so you could go home with what would eventually turn into one of these: tiny comb and wattles, gorgeous plumage, sweet personality.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Hello everyone. Good to see you on @Poco Pollo !

I really need to get some pics of my capons, they are great birds and so pretty. I have sold several of them to a fellow that just enjoys the special way that capons behave, not like a hen or a roo at all. I just aquired some gorgeous excess roos from a local BYCer project. She is working on Double Blue Gold Laced Brahmas. These boys are just exceptionaly beautiful. They are a bit older than I have attempted before, about 3 to 4 months I would say. I am hoping that the slower maturing genes keep the testes firm enough for an easy removal. I am going to wait for a week or so since I just got them. They are nervous and stressed after their trip.
I also got some imported Black Brahma chicks from the same person. Absolutely AMAZING birds, some of the biggest Brahmas I have seen. I am still waiting on my Scots Dumpys and English Orps from SandHill, I guess they are having trouble with production with the Dumpys this year. Fingers crossed that I still get them!

 

[bauerdog]

A friend had a rooster anesthetized and spent the better part of a night and day trying to keep the bird alive afterward.  Anesthesia, for the purposes of making capons, it not necessary.  If the operator is skilled, the bird will experience discomfort (plucking feathers and the initial incision), but he will not succumb to pain during caponizing.

I've caponized older birds, up to two-years-old, but I'm no longer caponizing them as I do eight-week-olds.  Because of the stress for the larger bird, I caponize the right side and allow the incision to heal completely (2 weeks).  After two weeks, I prep the bird a second time and remove the left testicle.   The survival rate is higher this way, and it's a lot less stressful for me as well.

Consider, too, that it may be months after caponization that the roo relaxes his breeding habits.  Perhaps it would make more sense to replace the rooster.

Thank you. My main concern was whether the caponizing would amend the overbreeding. I am happy to hear that it will. My friend is attached to this guy and doesn't want to replace him. She just wants to kill the overbreeding behaviour.

I just figured that an adult would be difficult to restrain. He is probably at least 10lbs....

 

[Poco Pollo]

Thank you. My main concern was whether the caponizing would amend the overbreeding. I am happy to hear that it will. My friend is attached to this guy and doesn't want to replace him. She just wants to kill the overbreeding behaviour.

I just figured that an adult would be difficult to restrain. He is probably at least 10lbs....

Restraining isn't the problem (use a length of paracord - something that doesn't stretch). Survival is the issue when you caponize older birds.

 

[Poco Pollo]

NO CAPON CLINIC THIS MONTH. Sorry, for those of you who were planning to attend. I must cancel the capon clinic for September 13th. I've got grandkids and no babysitter, husband's out of town that weekend, and I just don't think I can juggle everything and everyone without compromising quality of care and instruction.

 

[hellbender]

Posted this before and no one wants to talk about it so am trying on several threads. Is this immoral? Why will nobody talk about alcohol and bird butchering?? Has anyone ever lace feed with alcohol to help your girls "relax" before preparing them for the table? I gave 12 5 month old austrolorps a pint of 80 proof rum in 2 cups of feed and they thought they were having a social. Did not slow them down a bit. Pound for pound that is like this 205 lbs. Soo do farmer guzzling 2 1/2 pints. Never have but I know That would but me on my behonkus. Seems logical. Like novicane at the dentist. Easier on all involved.

We give our capons that are being 'finished' for slaughter a goodly amount of home brewed beer. I don't know if it helps them in any way but none of them keel over in a stupor. Lots of our birds get into the ensilage and I feel it has a good effect on them, especially during the colder months. They will eat it over their regular feed if it's available and I have never seen an adverse effect.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Started on my three Brahma boys today. They are project gold-laced-blue Brahmas from a fellow BYCer, beautiful boys. #1 went smooth and is fully caponized. I was working with my DH's headlamp, lost the charge cord to mine and need to get another, it is much dimmer than mine. Well #2 I nicked a vein. He seemed okay and I thought the Vit K would work, but right after getting off the table, his comb went purple and he was gasping. Didn't take him long to pass. I'm so mad at myself and anger makes me bawl.
#3 will have to wait until I have my headlamp charged, the light makes a huge difference. This is my first loss since the one last year at the capon clinic, still.......

 

[Poco Pollo]

Started on my three Brahma boys today. They are project gold-laced-blue Brahmas from a fellow BYCer, beautiful boys. #1 went smooth and is fully caponized. I was working with my DH's headlamp, lost the charge cord to mine and need to get another, it is much dimmer than mine. Well #2 I nicked a vein. He seemed okay and I thought the Vit K would work, but right after getting off the table, his comb went purple and he was gasping. Didn't take him long to pass. I'm so mad at myself and anger makes me bawl.
#3 will have to wait until I have my headlamp charged, the light makes a huge difference. This is my first loss since the one last year at the capon clinic, still.......

Don't beat yourself up. You did well. Every time you caponize you're building skills: sometimes it's learning what not to do, but it's all learning.

I've got a pen full of teeny weeny light Brahma boys. They won't be ready for caponizing for six more weeks. I'm hoping the breed will put on some nice fat once caponized.